Santa Maria dello Spasimo
Santa Maria dello Spasimo, Gothic-Renaissance church in Kalsa district, Palermo, Italy
Description
Santa Maria dello Spasimo is an unfinished church in the Kalsa district of Palermo, Sicily, whose central nave remains open to the sky. Four pointed arches separate the three naves, while large side chapels run along the walls.
History
Construction began in 1509 under Pope Julius II but was left unfinished in 1536 when the city needed to strengthen its defenses against Ottoman attacks. The building later served as a theater, grain storage, lazaretto during the 1624 plague, and hospital until 1986.
Culture
The church housed Raphael's masterwork 'Way to Calvary' until its transfer to Spain, now displayed at the Prado Museum in Madrid.
Practical
The former church at Via dello Spasimo 35 now functions as a cultural center with exhibitions, performances, and the International Jazz School. The roofless courtyard is best experienced in daylight, while evening events create a different mood.
Did you know?
Raphael painted the altarpiece known as Spasimo di Sicilia for this church before the work traveled to Spain. Today a reproduction hangs in the space where the original once stood, reminding visitors of the painting's connection to this roofless building.
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