The Church of the Santissimo Salvatore of Alcamo

The Church of the Santissimo Salvatore of Alcamo

The history of the Parish of the Santissimo Salvatore in Alcamo is very ancient: already in 1300 it existed near the monastery of Badia Grande this imposing building of Catholic worship, belonging to the Diocese of Trapani. Alcamo, in fact, is located in the Free Municipal Consortium of Trapani, in North Western Sicily.

The municipality is large, populated by about 44.000 people, and there are numerous churches that can be found in the historic centre. The Parish of the Santissimo Salvatore in Alcamo stands out for its history and for its architectural style, as well as for the works of valuable artistic value it holds.

Of medieval origins, the ancient church underwent various reconstruction interventions, starting from the middle of the sixteenth century and towards the end of the following century. In the seventeenth century, the Church was consecrated after the final reconstruction work, which gave it its current appearance.
The Parish of the Santissimo Salvatore in Alcamo was again remodeled in 1737 and from 1759 it was definitively reopened to the faithful.

During the last century, the 1968 earthquake caused a new and prolonged total closure of the Church.

In more recent times, in this sacred building in Alcamo it was still possible to listen to the Mass in Latin, followed by the Gregorian chants that distinguished the Parish; today the love for sacred music, which is still alive in the city, is cultivated in this church where the choir still meets, which also promotes cultural activities related to music.

The architecture of the Parish and the works of art it houses

The building that currently houses the Parish of the Santissimo Salvatore in Alcamo was built in the XNUMXth century in a classical style, with the tall square-based bell tower attached.
Divided into three orders, the facade of the Church appears simple but imposing, with a single central door on the ground floor and a mullioned window on the upper level. The only decorations that can be admired on the facade are a large entablature that separates the first from the second order and the tympanum that dominates the second order.

The interior of the Church, with a single nave, despite the austere appearance of the exterior, is rich in stuccos and statues, which represent angels and allegories, including Religion, Faith and Happiness.

The vault is frescoed with sacrificial scenes and the marble high reliefs and sacred canvases to be admired in the church are beautiful.

What to do in the Parish of the Santissimo Salvatore in Alcamo and in the surrounding area

You can enter the Parish of the Santissimo Salvatore in Alcamo for a moment of personal recollection in prayer, to participate in Mass and to admire all the beautiful works of art that are kept there.

The parish is also one of the tourist attractions of Alcamo, in fact there are many visitors who arrive in the city to admire this and other churches, such as the Church of Santa Maria della Stella, famous for its Portal in the district of San Vito, Sanctuary of the Madonna dei Miracoli mid-sixteenth century or Church of the Jesuit College, the second largest church in Alcamo.

If the Catholic religious buildings in Alcamo are very numerous, there is certainly no lack of civil architecture capable of attracting many tourists: the Castle of the Counts of Modica is a medieval fortress in the heart of the city, the Arab Fountain or Fountain of San Vito has very ancient origins that are lost in the era of Arab domination, while more recent is the Monument to the Fallen in the Great War and there is no shortage of modern Churches such as that of Jesus Christ Redeemer, built between 2002 and 2008.

Walking through the streets of the center, then, it will be possible to discover all the other treasures of Alcamo, such as the De Ballis Palace and City gates.

Moving away from the center and heading towards the coast, you can reach places rich in architectural and natural beauties: the beach of Alcamo, of course, but also Castellammare del Golfo, only 14 km away, tourist town at the foot of the Mount Inici, where in addition to the splendid sea you can admire numerous sacred buildings such as the Mother Church of the early eighteenth century and the Sanctuary of the Madonna della Scala and Borgo Castellazzo, a little further north, where you can walk, hike and cycle in contact with nature.

From Alcamo, however, it is also possible to reach the large centers of Trapani and Palermo, both just over 50 km from the town. Take advantage of the strategic location of the municipality to visit the Palatine Chapel, Church of San Giovanni degli Eremiti and the Church of San Cataldo in Palermo and the Castle of Venus, Sanctuary of Maria Santissima Annunziata and Corso Vittorio Emanuele in Trapani: who knows, driven by curiosity towards these incredible wonders, you may not have already started planning your next holiday in Sicily.

How is it possible to get to the Parish of the Most Holy Savior in Alcamo

Alcamo, in the Free Municipal Consortium of Trapani, can be reached by car via the A29 Palermo-Mazara del Vallo and by train from Punta Raisi station, about 26 km away from the centre, to be covered by bus or shuttle.

© Daniele Pugliesi, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Pugliesig, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons