The Mother Church of San Giacomo Maggiore in Villarosa

If you are in Villarosa, in the province of Enna, you cannot miss the Mother Church dedicated to San Giacomo Maggiore, the patron saint of Villarosa who celebrates August 10th of each year. It stands with its particular rectangular facade in the central square of the town and is flanked by a bell tower with a loggia.

The history of the Mother Church of San Giacomo Maggiore in Villarosa

This place of worship was built by the Duke of Palermo Placido Notarbartolo who founded the same city of Villarosa in 1762, when the Bourbons reigned in Sicily. In reality the construction of the original nucleus of the Mother Church in Villarosa was occurred from 1740, and it was the faithful themselves who raised the necessary funds for the work. The small tombstones placed next to the altars bear witness to this.

In 1763 the place was opened for worship as a sacramental church dedicated to San Giacomo and in the same year the first baptismal act was celebrated there.

The square where the Mother Church is located in Villarosa bears the same name and was formerly used as a cemetery and was later used for the fruit and vegetable market; today however it is the heart of Villarosa, a meeting place, meeting place and celebration of religious festivities.

The architecture and art of the Mother Church of San Giacomo Maggiore in Villarosa

What immediately strikes the eye of whoever is in front of it is undoubtedly the majestic staircase of the Mother Church that you have to climb to reach the entrance; this route allows you to admire the eighteenth-century facade up close which has been restored twice: the first after the war to repair the damage caused by an earthquake and the second in 1985 when the plaster was removed and the original stone used was brought to light for its construction.

Passing between the two columns that delimit the entrance, you find yourself in front of a single nave with finely plastered walls on which precious eighteenth- and nineteenth-century canvases depicting religious scenes stand out.

On the right is the baptismal font which was once protected by a wrought iron gate and which is now used as a stoup. On the same side you can admire the painting that depicts the Madonna del Carmine (co-patron saint of Villarosa), while on the left another painting contrasts with her souls in purgatory.

What strikes the eye are the two stucco statues of Faith and Charity, but what triumphs to the eye is above all the representation of the Holy Trinity: a triangle that houses the name of God written in Hebrew and around it the golden rays symbolize the gifts and fruits of the Holy Spirit branch out.

On the sides of the central nave of the Mother Church in Villarosa we find 3 altars on the left and 2 on the right: they were originally built in wood but in the 50s in the twentieth century this poor material was replaced by marble.

The same fate befell the main altar consecrated to Our Lady of the Assumption: in 1962 its wood was also replaced by marble and the Sleeping Madonna positioned on a catafalque was replaced by a variegated marble pelican which is the symbol of whoever gives his blood for love of children.

The floor itself, which in originally it was made of stone, was rebuilt with slabs of Carrara marble veined and inserts in gray Billiemi marble.

Also very interesting is the eighteenth-century pipe organ of the Mother Church in Villarosa, which worked until the 30s and has now been restored and has returned to move the souls of the faithful with its music.

What to do around the Mother Church of San Giacomo Maggiore in Villarosa

After the visit to the Mother Church of San Giacomo Maggiore and being in Villarosa, one cannot fail to dedicate some time to visiting this small agricultural village of about 6.000 inhabitants which stands on a hill at 523 meters above sea level.

One of the best times to do this is the month of September, when the traditional Rural Festival of the Madonna della Catena takes place where farmers display their agricultural products, in particular olives, almonds and grapes that can be tasted in various typical preparations of the area.

Between August and September, on the other hand, it could be interesting to participate in the annual event Cattle and Sheep Fair; taking part in these events which have their roots in history and which represent the vital basis of the inhabitants is the best way to fully understand their peculiarities.

Just 15 km from Villarosa, there is Enna, the only Sicilian province that does not have an outlet to the sea, but on the other hand offers the possibility of visiting wonderful nature reserves and admiring wonderful views. At the highest point of the city we find the beautiful Castle of Lombardy, a medieval fortress in which the Pisan tower which offers truly wonderful views of the surrounding valley. Close to Castle also stands the Rocca di Cerere, whose visit even includes some prehistoric rock habitats.

How to get to the Mother Church of San Giacomo Maggiore in Villarosa

From Enna it is possible to get to the Mother Church in Villarosa by car, easily driving the approximately 15 km that divide the two cities, but it is also possible to take a bus by paying a ticket which can vary between 2 and 4 euros or by taxi with a cost of about 26/32 euros.

From Palermo, on the other hand, you can take the A19 by car towards Catania, exit at the Enna junction and head towards Villarosa. The journey time is approximately one hour and thirty minutes.