Collegiate church in Monreale

In the city of Monreale, in the province of Palermo, there are many beauties to discover such as Church of the Collegiate Crucifix Sanctuary. A beautiful structure to look at, rich in history and works of art preserved inside.

The Collegiate church in Monreale

La Collegiate Church in Monreale, also known as Parish of the Collegiate Church of the Crucifix Sanctuary, is a building present in the area and probably built before the fifteenth century. Over the centuries it has been revisited several times from an architectural point of view with a series of interventions that have allowed its expansion with the addition of several chapels including the one dedicated to the image of Jesus crucified.
Subsequently, it was decided to increase the space of the central nave and to insert the choir in 1716 thanks to the donations made by the various faithful who were present nearby and who had always venerated the cult of Most Holy Crucifix.
Furthermore, in 1718 an imposing majolica panel composed of 1500 polychrome ceramic tiles was inserted outside the apse of the church, covering a surface area of ​​approximately 50 square metres, which still makes it the largest in all of Italy. .
In 1754 the then Archbishop consecrated the church now dedicated to the cult of Most Holy Crucifix and in 1801, on the occasion of a visit by Ferdinand III of Bourbon, who was at the time King of the Two Sicilies, there was an intervention to repave the church with marble bricks.

The works of art preserved in the church

Inside the Monreale Collegiate Church there are several works of art that every visitor can appreciate in their original beauty. First of all, taking a look at the central nave you notice four canvases created by Benefial, which represent some significant moments reported in the Bible such as Deposition of the Cross, the resurrection, the apparition a Mary of Magdala and ascension. Furthermore, a valuable statuette of theImmaculate with a series of statues depicting different saints positioned on the sides.
The choir, built during the eighteenth century, is entirely made of carved walnut, is divided into two floors and is made up of 36 stalls. To make this part even more valuable, there are greats paintings on canvas.
The main altar, however, was made with white marble and there are small Corinthian style columns that support the three floors provided by the wooden tabernacle, equally carved but in neoclassical style. Among other things the Monreale Collegiate Church it is also home to a prestigious archive in which there are important historical documents concerning the Benedictine monks and many events of some nearby churches such as the Capuchin monasteries, Monastery of San Gaetano, Carmine Monastery , Church of Santa Maria in Orto.

What to see in Monreale

In Monreale it is possible to appreciate beauties such as the Cathedral and its mosaics, which was recognized World Heritage Site byUnesco. This structure, built between 1172 and 1176 by William II, offers a style known and appreciated throughout the world which is a union of architectural styles that refer to Arab and Norman art. A valuable building which boasts an extraordinary apse for external and internal decorations, as the vault features a mosaic of the Christ Pantocrator which refers to the Byzantine style.
In addition to Duomo whose beauty is truly incomparable, there are other religious structures worth visiting like the Abbey Basilica of San Martino delle Scale or Church of Sant'Antonio di Padova and Sanctuary of Maria Santissima del Rosario of Tagliavia. For lovers of history and culture, a visit to the is unmissable diocesan museum.
The Flower Festival of Monreale it is the perfect opportunity to visit this town, and for the more curious it is possible to discover the Mineralogical Museum, Or the Museum of Minerals in Monreale.

How to reach Monreale

To get to Monreale starting from Palermo it is necessary to cover a small distance by car of only 10 km following the SP69. It usually takes less than 30 minutes.
Alternatively, from the central station you can take the N2 bus to Palazzo Reale and then the N4 arriving in Rocca. In the last stretch from Fontana del Drago you arrive in Monreale in 1 minute.
From Catania by car there are 214 km along the A19 motorway to be covered in 2 hours and 30 minutes or with the bus operated by Sais Autolinee.
From Messina with your own auto you get to Monreale in 3 hours via a 235 km route which includes a stretch of the A20 and then the E90. Alternatively, you can take the Itabus company car from Piazza Unione Europea which allows you to reach Palermo in 5 hours and 10 minutes.