Santa Chiara

Santa Chiara is a baroque church in the Albergaria district of Palermo with a rectangular floor plan featuring side altars and a square sanctuary topped with a dome. The interior concludes with a semicircular apse decorated in marble, creating a sense of depth and elegance throughout the space.

Matteo Sclafani commissioned its construction in 1344 at the location of a former palace, establishing the site's religious purpose. Extensive renovations in 1678 transformed it into the baroque structure we see today.

The church is dedicated to Saint Chiara and displays artworks by different artists spanning several centuries within its walls. Visitors can observe how the decoration reflects the local veneration of this saint throughout the generations.

The church can be visited during daytime hours and is easily accessible being located in a central neighborhood. Guided tours are offered by staff at the center, which helps visitors understand the layout and artworks on display.

Ancient Punic walls run beneath the building and have been revealed through archaeological digs beneath the theater floor. These remains show that Phoenician settlement once existed at this precise location.

Location: Palermo

Inception: 1344

Architectural style: baroque architecture

GPS coordinates: 38.11303,13.35994

Latest update: December 12, 2025 17:41