Church of Purgatory in Marsala

Marsala, 1601: with the beginning of the new XVII century, the Congregation of the Souls in Purgatory he settles at the Church of Saints Fabiano and Sebastiano. Thus began the story of Church of Purgatory in Marsala: the Congregation, starting from the mid-seventeenth century, transformed the old sixteenth-century church into the building Barocco which can still be admired today in the historic center of the city in the province of Trapani.

In 1701 the main facade of the Church was completed, while inside the building, you can admire frescoes from the XNUMXth and XNUMXth centuries.

What makes the story of Church of Purgatory in Marsala even more astonishing, however, is the recent discovery, during recent excavations, of the wall remains of another building, much older and dating back to the proto-Byzantine period and therefore to the eighth century.

Today the Church is home to the Auditorium of Santa Cecilia.

The architecture of the Church of Purgatorio in Marsala and what it holds inside

Triumph of Sicilian baroque, the main elevation of the Church of Purgatory in Marsala overlooks a small square that takes its name from the church; there baroque fountain and the floor already announce from the outside, the beauty of the Church.

On the main facade we notice two orders and an incredible wealth of decorations, including columns and pilasters, Corinthian capitals and cornices, balustrades, statues, reliefs cared for down to the smallest detail. In the first order are the main door, large and in wood, framed by a round tuff arch and surmounted by a large round frame and two smaller doors, but still framed by arches and surmounted by frames that surround ancient frescoes. In the second order, in addition to the framed window, we find dense and meticulous decorations, while the large dome of the Church is completely covered in shiny green majolica.

The interior of the Church is divided into three naves and is very bright: the dominant colors are the white of the walls and the gold which is found in the subtle but abundant decorations up to the vault and ceilings, masterfully frescoed with stories from the Bible . Furthermore, in the Church it is possible to admire the ancient crucifix, the sacred furnishings and paintings, but also the modern equipment of the Auditorium.

What you can do in the Church of Purgatory in Marsala and its surroundings

Choose the Church of Purgatory in Marsala as a first stop to discover the city of the Landing of the Thousand: here you can admire this huge baroque treasure, and then head towards the other (many) attractions of the city, such as Porta Garibaldi, with the fortified walls, the Mother Church, consecrated to St. Thomas of Canterbury and guardian of an organ with over 4.000 pipes, the Church of St. Peter with the Monastery; there are many other sacred buildings in the city, such as the Churches of San Giuseppe, San Matteo and Sant'Anna, but also the Church of the Carmine, now deconsecrated and home to the Pinacoteca, is worth a visit for its extraordinary beauty.

A city rich in history like Marsala, also offers you the spectacle of monuments such as the Palace VII April , Tonnara of San Teodoro and there is no shortage of modern symbols that pay their tribute to history, such as the Monument to the Thousand, located on the seafront, not far from the port where Garibaldi and the Thousand landed.

Don't forget to stop by Marsala Castle, medieval building of Norman origins and a walk in the Spanish Military Quarter. Walking through the city, you will also find all the other monuments of Marsala.

What else to expect from a big city full of charm? Naturally, clubs and restaurants, welcoming accommodation facilities and the springboard for discovering the beauties of the surroundings, such as archaeological sites e winemaking establishments, which tell the past and present of Marsala.

Recommended activities for a tour in Trapani and its surroundings

How is it possible to get to the Church of Purgatory in Marsala

La Church of Purgatory in Marsala it is located in the centre, in the homonymous square near the Mother Church. To get to the city, visitors can choose the journey on the train, getting off at Marsala Station, or the journey in the car, taking the A29 Palermo-Mazara del Vallo and taking the exits for Trapani Bigi Airport, 14 km from the centre, or for Marausa, 14 km away.

© Image by find, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons