Santa Ninfa dei Crociferi

The Church of Saint Nympha (Italian: Chiesa di Santa Ninfa or Santa Ninfa dei Crociferi) is a Baroque-Mannerist church of Palermo. It is located in the central Via Maqueda, in the quarter of Seralcadi, within the historic centre of Palermo. The church belongs to the Camillians (also known as "Crociferi").

Church of Saint Nympha
Chiesa di Santa Ninfa dei Crociferi (in Italian)
Façade of the church
Religion
AffiliationRoman Catholic
ProvinceArchdiocese of Palermo
RiteRoman Rite
Location
LocationPalermo, Italy
Geographic coordinates38°06′59.8″N 13°21′37.6″E
Architecture
StyleSicilian Baroque, Mannerist
Groundbreaking1601
Completed1750

History

The church – dedicated to one of the patron saints of Palermo – is one of the first buildings erected after the opening of Via Maqueda, the second most important street of the city. The construction of the church began on 10 August 1601 with the ceremony of groundbreaking.[1] To this inauguration also Saint Camillus de Lellis attended.[1] The construction was fostered by the Palermo Senate and financed with donations from several noble families of the city. In the same area the house of the Crociferi was erected.[1]

The original project was probably prepared in Rome. In Palermo many architects were involved in the construction: Giovanni Macolino, Giacomo Amato, Giuseppe Clemente Mariani, Ferdinando Lombardo and Giuseppe Venanzio Marvuglia. The church was open in 1660, but because of financial difficulties, the construction was completed only in 1750 with the conclusion of the façade designed by Ferdinando Lombardo. The church houses many artworks of important artists.

Some relics of Saint Camillus are held in the church.

Sir John Acton was buried here after his death in 1811.

Art
Facade: Martyrdom of Saint Nympha, Gaspare Firriolo
Facade: Saint Camillus takes care of the infirms, Vittorio Perez
Facade: The groundbreaking of the church, Vittorio Perez

Paintings

Oil on canvas:

  • Nympha and the other Virgins of Palermo with Saint Joseph, Mary and the Most Holy Trinity, Gioacchino Martorana
  • Saint Camillus ascends to Heaven, Gaspare Serenario
  • Death of Saint Joseph, Guglielmo Borremans
  • Holy Family, Guglielmo Borremans
  • Saint Joseph the Carpenter, Guglielmo Borremans
  • Martyrdom of Saint Venantius, unknown author
  • God the Father, unknown author

Panel painting:

  • Our Lady of Health, unknown author

Frescoes:

  • Saint Paul and the Triumph of the Cross, Gioacchino Martorana
  • Saint Jerome, Gioacchino Martorana
  • Saint Gregory the Great, Gioacchino Martorana
  • Saint Augustine, Gioacchino Martorana
  • Saint Ambrose, Gioacchino Martorana
  • Saint Philip Neri in Glory, Alessandro D'Anna
  • Saint Magdalene penitent, Alessandro D'Anna
  • Saint Liberalis, unknown author
  • Saint Evansia, unknown author
  • Adoration of the Bronze Serpent, unknown author
  • Assumption of the Virgin, unknown author

Sculptures

High reliefs:

  • Martyrdom of Saint Nympha, Gaspare Firriolo
  • Saint Camillus takes care of the infirms, Vittorio Perez
  • The groundbreaking of the church, Vittorio Perez

Statues:

  • Saint John the Baptist, Giacomo Serpotta
  • Mary Magdalene, Giacomo Serpotta
  • Virgin Mary, Giacomo Serpotta
  • Our Lady of Sorrows, Giuseppe Milanti
  • Simeon, Andrea Sulfarello
  • Jeremiah, Gaspare La Farina
  • Heart of Jesus, unknown author
  • Justice, unknown author
  • Penance, unknown author

The church houses several funeral monuments.

See also

References
  1. Palermo, Gaspare (1816). "Gaspare Palermo, Guida istruttiva per potersi conoscere tutte le magnificenze della Città di Palermo, Volume quarto, Palermo, Reale Stamperia, 1816, p. 145-154".
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