Santa Ninfa dei Crociferi


The Church of Saint Nympha 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.

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. To this inauguration also Saint Camillus de Lellis attended. 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.
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

Paintings

Oil on canvas:
Panel painting:
Frescoes:
High reliefs:
Statues:
The church houses several funeral monuments.