Location Palermo, Italy Rite Roman Rite Groundbreaking 1640 Opened 1770 Phone +39 091 589172 | Affiliation Roman Catholic Website Official site Completed 1770 Province Province of Palermo Architectural style Sicilian Baroque | |
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Address Piazza S. Domenico, 1, 90133 Palermo, Italy Similar San Giuseppe dei Teatini, San Cataldo - Palermo, Quattro Canti, Oratorio del Rosario di San Do, Church of the Gesù - Palermo Profiles | ||
The Church of Saint Dominic (Italian: Chiesa di San Domenico or simply San Domenico) is the second most important church of Palermo after the ancient cathedral. It is located in Piazza San Domenico, in the quarter of the Loggia, within the historic centre of Palermo. The church hosts the burials of many eminent figures of Sicilian history and culture. For this reason it is known as the "Pantheon of illustrious Sicilians".
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History
The origin of the building dates back to the Middle Ages. A first Dominican church was built on this site between 1280 and 1285. The church was in Norman–Gothic style and it was also fitted with a convent and a cloister that represented a small and simple reproduction of the more famous Benedectine cloister of Monreale. Inside this primitive church the son of James I of Cyprus, Odo, was buried in 1420 (or 1421).
At the beginning of the 15th century the medieval church became too small for the needs of a growing community of believers. For this reason the friars sought the financial aid of Pope Martin V and of the wealthiest families of Palermo. The new church was built in Renaissance style. However, through the natural course of time, also this building became too small for the liturgical needs of friars and believers. Therefore, in 1630, the Dominicans of Palermo commissioned architect Andrea Cirrincione to build a new church. Ten years after, on 2 February 1640, there was the groundbreaking ceremony. The work required many decades. The Baroque façade was completed in 1726, while the left bell tower dates from 1770.
During the Sicilian revolution of 1848, in this church the Sicilian Parliament was called under the leadership of Ruggero Settimo. In 1853 the church became the pantheon of illustrious Sicilians.