Tag: baroque architecture

Postcard from Palermo, Sicily: Putti play while Jesuits pray

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Above: Putti sculpted of marble in Chiesa del Gesu

Known as soldiers of God, Jesuits travel throughout the world to educate and evangelize the masses. They take a vow of poverty when they enter the order, which makes the extravagant beauty found in their churches particularly surprising.

The website of Chiesa del Gesu explains their evangelization efforts through art with words of Saint John of Damascus (676-749):

If a pagan comes and says, “Show me your faith!” take him to church and show him the decoration with which it is adorned and explain to him the series of sacred pictures.

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Postcard from Siracusa, Sicily: From the Baroque to a modern landmark

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Above: Chiesa del Carmine

Offering a quick glimpse of a few more churches in Siracusa.

There is a fairly consistent pattern in the history of the majority of these churches. They were built centuries ago; suffered substantial damage in the 1493 earthquake; and were rebuilt in Baroque style.

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Postcard from Noto, Sicily: Ever-Ready for ‘Lights. Camera. Action.’

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Above: Stairway climbing up to Chiesa di San Francesco d’Assisi in Noto

The earthquake of 1693 virtually wiped medieval Antica Noto off the map, along with eliminating roughly half of its population. Undeterred by the widespread devastation, Sicilians started anew. The fresh start resulted in a city basically built in one style over a 50-year period – Sicilian Baroque. Gorgeous. Stunningly picturesque, yet….

Supposedly 25,000 people inhabit Noto, but, wandering in the historic center, it feels as though there is nobody home but us tourists – a lot of them. Which is a flaw. Noto looks so perfect that is seems artificial, more like a movie set, which it has been numerous times.

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