Church of St. Francis of Sales
Inaugurated in 1776 and consecrated in 1818, the church of the Educandato Maria Adelaide, designed by architect G.V. Marvuglia, captivates with its blend of Baroque and Neoclassical styles. It houses precious works of art and fascinating details, such as brass confessionals and the grille for the Communion of cloistered nuns, reflecting stories of faith, beauty, and an architectural legacy that continues to endure through the centuries.
Church of St. Francis of Sales
This church, with its extraordinary fusion of Baroque and Neoclassical elements, is a place
where the past manifests itself with force and beauty that still enchant visitors today.
Inaugurated in 1776, but consecrated only in 1818, the Church is the work of Giuseppe
Venanzio Marvuglia, one of the most important architects of Palermo at that time.
The imposing and solemn façade, extends throughout the height of the building and recalls the 17th century style, with its two superimposed orders, Ionic and Corinthian, enriched with niches and strong pilasters that modulate the light, creating suggestive plays of light and shadow. Upon entering, you are greeted by a vestibule framed by two free-standing columns that support the choir, from which the nuns attended services through a grille.
The singlenave plan of the church with four side chapels, the straight line preferred over curvilinear elements and the use of gray marble and faux pilasters give the environment a timeless elegance. The church, originally simple and devoid of ornaments, was enriched over time with significant works of art. The large canvas of the main altar, depicting “Saint Francis de Sales giving the rule to Sister Jeanne de Chantal,” is one of the most precious works attributed to Gaetano Mercurio.
The other chapels host canvases depicting Saint Joseph and an Abbess kneeling before Jesus,
while the apse, majestic in proportion to the church, is bordered by a polychrome marble
balustrade and decorated with gilded wooden bas-reliefs.
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Audioguides curated by the students of Educandato Statale Maria Adelaide
School Year 2024/2025
School Year 2024/2025
