Church of the Gesù

The Church of the Gesù is a Baroque church in Palermo located along Via Maqueda near the Quattro Canti, with a pale stone façade that stands out along the street. Inside, a single nave extends toward the altar under high vaults, with side chapels containing carved wooden altars and frescoes depicting biblical scenes.

The Jesuits started building the church in 1636, following the new design principles of the Counter-Reformation. Work continued for several decades until the building took on its present form and decoration.

The name Gesù refers to Jesus and reflects the devotion of the Jesuits who founded it, while the colored marble floors and columns create a warm, meditative environment. Today visitors and worshippers experience the space as a quiet refuge in the heart of the old town, where craftsmanship from past centuries remains visible and tangible.

The main entrance opens onto Via Maqueda, and visitors can usually enter during daytime hours when services are not being held. It is advisable to remain quiet and respectful of those who come to pray.

The marble inlay work on the walls and floor displays floral patterns and geometric shapes crafted by local stonemasons in the 17th century. Some of the smaller chapels also preserve wooden choir stalls and confessionals that are hand-carved and rarely seen elsewhere in such quality.