Santa Maria la Nova, Catholic church in central Palermo, Italy

Santa Maria la Nova is a Renaissance church on Piazza San Giacomo La Marina, halfway between the Vucciria and the Cala harbour. Its west front is preceded by a Gothic-Catalan portico of three low arches with blind arcades on the corner pillars, modelled on Santa Maria della Catena; the upper facade was rebuilt in Neo-Gothic style in the first half of the 19th century. Inside are three naves, an octagonal tribune and dome by Giorgio Di Faccio, and a 1905 floor of eight-pointed stars by Francesco Paolo Palazzotto.

A church and hospital were founded here in 1339 by the De Cesario-Pagano family to care for sick pilgrims. The present Renaissance three-nave building was begun in 1534 and completed in 1582, with Giorgio Di Faccio's octagonal tribune and dome added in 1568. In 1585 the Deputazione per la redenzione dei Cattivi was set up here to collect alms ransoming Christians captured by the Turks.

The name Santa Maria la Nova marks it as the "new" church replacing an older Marian building on the same site. Since 1585 the Deputazione per la redenzione dei Cattivi, a confraternity collecting alms to ransom Christians captured by the Turks, was based here. On Good Friday the wooden Addolorata by Girolamo Bagnasco is carried through the streets by the Confrati dei Cassari.

The church stands on Piazza San Giacomo La Marina, halfway between the Vucciria market and the small Cala harbour, so it is reached on foot through the historic centre. The west front is preceded by a Gothic-Catalan portico of three low arches; the entrance is through this portico. Inside, three naves lead to the octagonal tribune and dome.

The church holds a wooden Crucifix of the 18th century and a statue of the Addolorata by Girolamo Bagnasco; on Good Friday the confraternity of the Cassari carries its ferculum in procession through the streets of the quarter.