The Church of San Nicolò in Gangi

La Church of San Nicolò in the town of Gangi is actually the Cathedral of this locality in the province of Palermo. It is a structure whose dating is uncertain but certainly very ancient, so it has always accompanied the evolution of the village and the life of its inhabitants who are very devoted to it.
For all history and architecture enthusiasts who want to know more about the history of the Church of San Nicolò in Gangi, here is the main information.

The history of the Church of San Nicolò in Gangi

In Gangi, the origins of the birth of Church of San Nicolò are uncertain but according to some scholars the structure was already present in Norman era. As evidence of this there are the engravings of the coats of arms of the main noble families who participated in the reconquest by the Normans. Certainly, however, we know that in 1429 what was known as the Tower of Ventimiglia it became the bell tower of the Church of San Nicolò in the town of Gangi: in the official documents it is reported that it became part of the "ecclesie sancti Nicolai maiori ecclesie di terre". From that moment on, the structure has always been at the center of the history and life of the village, even if it has undergone several renovations and renovations over time. For example, at the time of the Spanish dominations, the Church of San Nicolò in Gangi it had a single nave and externally had the shape of a hut. In the eighteenth century, however, it was completely rebuilt with a Latin cross plan and a dome.

The architecture and any works of art present in the Church of San Nicolò in Gangi

From an architectural point of view, today the Church of San Nicolò it has three naves. The right aisle has five bays, each of which looks like a real chapel. The left aisle also has five bays, among which the second stands out which is dedicated to St. Francis of Assisi, since it houses a statue of the saint, and the fourth which is instead dedicated to the souls in purgatory. In the transept, however, there are the Chapel of Our Lady of the Rosary , Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament, both dating back to the late eighteenth century. The presbytery, certainly the most beautiful part of the whole church, is delimited by a marble balustrade and houses the statue of San Nicola and an oil canvas depicting The Last Judgment. Finally, the crypt which houses the mummies of some prelates is very suggestive given that from 1725 until 1872 the custom of embalming priests was carried on.

What you can do around the Church of San Nicolò and in Gangi

The most important symbol of Gangi is certainly the Castle of Ventimiglia, which is located in the highest part of the town and whose construction dates back approximately to the fourteenth century: it was born as a defensive structure but in the seventeenth century it was transformed into a noble residence. From a later period but equally beautiful is the one known by the name of Palace Good morning which was built in the first half of the eighteenth century. Sgadari Palace, now home to both the Church of San Nicolò in Gangi that the Local Civic Museum. In Piazza del Popolo, however, which is one of the meeting places of the village, there is the beautiful Lion Fountain, built in 1931 and completely paid for with the money of the faithful who wanted to donate it to the town. Finally, a visit to the little one is recommended Church of the Holy Spirit which rises in the same place where once there was a votive shrine dedicated to the sacred figure.

How is it possible to get to Gangi

Those who want to want to reach Gangi and move by car from Palermo, they can first take the A19 and then the E932 while from Catania, only follow the A19.
From Messina, on the other hand, the best route is the one that first takes the A20 and then the E90.
From Agrigento, however, the reference road is the SS640, from Trapani the E90, from Syracuse first the E45 and then the A19.
Finally, from Enna it is advisable to choose the Sp39.
Gangi does not have its own railway station so those who want to travel on the train they can refer to the nearby ones located in Tusa, Pollina or Leonforte - Pirato and then continue their journey with the buses made available by the AST company.

© Image by Ephems, CC BY-SA 4.0 - Ephems, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons