Santa Maria Maddalena, Norman church in Palermo, Italy

Santa Maria Maddalena is a church in Palermo featuring pointed arches, stone walls, and geometric patterns typical of Norman architecture in Sicily. The building stands as part of a dense cluster of medieval structures within the city's historic district.

A chapel dedicated to Mary Magdalene existed by 1130, built by Elvira of Castile, wife of Roger II, to hold Norman royal burials. In 1187 Archbishop Gualtiero Offamilio demolished it with William II's authorization to enlarge the cathedral, rebuilding nearby with reused material; the new church was built between 1184 and 1186. In 1608 it passed to the Friars Minor, and in 1622 it was incorporated into the Spanish military quarter of San Giacomo.

The name Santa Maria Maddalena di Xalca or Alga comes from the Arabic al-Halqah, the fortified enclosure of the old Galka citadel. Since 1608 the church has belonged to the Friars Minor, and in 1382 the Congregation of Santa Maria Maddalena was established there. A marble statue of the saint from the Gaginian workshop, once documented outside, now stands inside.

The church is inside the San Giacomo military quarter, now a Carabinieri barracks, and is not visible from the street. Access is only possible on special occasions, so check locally before planning a visit. The complex lies near Porta Nuova, along Corso Vittorio Emanuele.

The church is not visible from the street: it stands inside the San Giacomo military quarter, a walled complex built in 1622 by viceroy Emanuele Filiberto of Savoy and further enclosed in 1650 by Giovanni of Austria, with two gates onto the parade ground. It can normally be visited only on special occasions.