Website Official site Opened 1710 Groundbreaking 1685 | Completed 1710 Affiliation Catholic Church | |
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Address Via S. Francesco Saverio, 3, 90134 Palermo, Italy Similar San Giovanni degli Ere, San Giuseppe dei Teatini, Church of the Gesù - Palermo, San Giovanni dei Lebbr, Sant'Agostino - Palermo | ||
The Church of Saint Francis Xavier (Italian: Chiesa di San Francesco Saverio or simply San Francesco Saverio) is a Baroque church of Palermo. It is located in the quarter of the Albergaria, within the historic centre of Palermo. The building is considered the masterpiece of the Jesuit architect Angelo Italia.
History
On 20 September 1633 the Jesuits founded their fourth house in Palermo. It was destinated to the Third Probation and dedicated to Saint Francis Xavier. This new foundation was patronised by Giovanna Aragona Ventimiglia, Marchioness of Giarratana. In 1634 the archbishop Giovanni Doria blessed the initial core of the structure.
In 1680 a new House of Jesuits was built. In 1685 the reconstruction of the church started. The project for this new monumental building was realized by the Jesuit architect Angelo Italia. Il 1710 the church was completed. On 29 November 1711 the church was consecreted by the archbishop of Mazara del Vallo Bartolomeo Castelli.