CHURCH OF JESUS AT CASA PROFESSA PALERMO

In 1549, at the request of the Palermo Senate, Saint Ignatius of Loyola sent the first Jesuit fathers to Palermo. In 1553 the Jesuit fathers, after some troubles to find a suitable place to accommodate both the school and the church, obtained the abbey of Santa Maria della Grotta by imperial rescript.
The work began under the direction of the Jesuit architect of Ferrara Giovanni Tristano. The foundation stone was laid in 1564.
The plan of the church was a single nave with a Latin cross, with deep side chapels. The transept spread its arms to accommodate the larger chapels, dedicated to Saint Ignatius of Loyola and Saint Francis Xavier.
The most powerful charm of this masterpiece of art is certainly linked to the allegorical marble figurations. However the iconographic language needs initiatory interpretation, otherwise, its message risks even serious misunderstandings. For example, it is not uncommon for some guides to see in this church traces of Masonry and esotericism, up to occultism. To obviate a similar interpretative drift and try to understand the intentionality of the authors, refer to the explanation of the works contained in the blog of Pietre Vive.
For those who want to know the magnificent works exhibited in the Museum visit the site of the Cultural Association Itiner'ars, which takes care of the tourist reception inside the church.
The works of art inside the church are made with the mixed and tramischio marble technique, executed by the best Sicilian sculptors: Gioacchino Vitaliano, Antonio Grano, Camillo Camilliani, Ignazio Marabitti and Giacomo Serpotta.