The ruins of the ancient Cathedral of Salemi

The Cathedral of Salemi

The ruins of the ancient Cathedral of Salemi are one of the main attractions of Salemi, a city of the Free Municipal Consortium of Trapani, in western Sicily.

Located in the historic center of the medieval village, near the Norman Castle, the remains of this Church give life to a veritable open-air museum: to discover its history, we must go back to the 1615th century, when in 1761 the works for the construction of the then Mother Church of the village were undertaken. More than a century later, in XNUMX, the last stone of this sacred building was finally laid.

The Church, consecrated to St. Nicholas of Bari, however, was partially destroyed by the 1968 earthquake that shook the Belice Valley, collapsing the roof and devastating the walls of the building. Subsequently, the ancient Cathedral of Salemi was not rebuilt, but left in the same conditions caused by the earthquake, in memory of the tragic event, but also as evidence of the rebirth of the surrounding village.
Therefore, from a large church, the Salemi Cathedral has transformed into a meeting point, where today the young people of the city meet.

Architecture of the ancient Cathedral of Salemi and what to admire inside

Originally, the ancient Cathedral of Salemi was a Latin cross church, with transept and three naves, decorated in late Renaissance style. Imposing and simple at the same time, it housed sculptures, altars and sacred paintings, all works by artists such as Bernardo Restelli, Mariano Smiriglio and Cristoforo Milanti, the latter belonging to a family of Trapani artists from Marsala.
The works that were saved from the destruction of the earthquake, such as the canvas depicting the Madonna of the Angels of 1604, are today preserved at the civic Museum.

Whoever arrives in front of the ancient Cathedral of Salemi is preparing to visit an open-air museum, in fact of the entire building all that remains are the columns, the apse area and some short sections of the brick walls that surrounded the three naves.
Approaching the niches that have remained intact, it is still possible to admire the marvelous marbles of the altars, some sculptures and the capitals of the columns, which arouse in visitors a sense of admiration mixed with amazement, once the history of this fascinating monument of the past is known.

What to do near the ancient Cathedral of Salemi and in the surroundings

Salemi is a perfect destination for tourists who love art and nature: in Belice Valley, 41 km from the Gulf of Castellammare on the northern coast and 43 km from the beach Three Fountains on the southern coast, the city offers its visitors all the natural beauties of Sicily, such as its splendid beaches, but also many cultural and historical attractions, to be visited by those staying in the village.

The historic center of Arab-medieval origins, offers in addition to the ancient Cathedral also a fortress of very ancient origins, the Norman Castle of Salemi, built in 1077 and perfectly preserved. Right next to the Castle are the ruins of the ancient Cathedral of Salemi, an attraction to discover, but also a source of reflection on the consequences of the passage of history.

Many others, however, are the churches of the city, such as the Church of Santa Maria della Catena or the Church of Maria Santissima della Misericordia, of seventeenth-century origin and still open to the faithful. Taking a relaxing walk in the village, therefore, you will be able to admire many architectural beauties of the past, in the splendid and green setting of the Valley, which offers a spectacular view of the vineyards and olive groves of the area, from the highest part of the city.
Here, those who want to learn more about the history of the village can also visit the Civic Museum, to admire all the works of art that were kept in the former Mother Church destroyed by the earthquake.

Salemi can be the starting point for a tour that opens up to the beauties of the area: among the closest centers there is the Greek archaeological area of ​​Segesta, where the main attraction is the beautiful Doric temple from the 45th century BC but also Alcamo it's not far. In fact, just XNUMX km away, there is this large and beautiful city, which offers you many attractions, from Palazzo de Ballis to the Parish of the SS. SaviorWithout forgetting the Castle of the Counts of Modica, of medieval origins, located in the heart of the city.

Finally, from Salemi you can also reach Trapani, just 36 km away: from here, in addition to admiring the beauties of the center such as the Church of Sant'Agostino and the Palazzo Milo, it is possible to embark for the Egadi Islands, where the dream beaches of Favignana await you.

How to get to the ancient Cathedral of Salemi

Salemi, in the Free Municipal Consortium of Trapani, can be easily reached by car and train.

Those who prefer the car can take the A29 Palermo-Mazara del Vallo as far as the Trapani exit, and then continue along the SS 188 arriving in Salemi; by train, the closest station is Castelvetrano about 14 km from the town, connected to the center by bus or shuttle.

© Giuseppe Gucciardi, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons; Pivari.com, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons