Cathedral (Chiesa Madre di Marsala) description and photos - Italy: Marsala (Sicily) (Topic)

Cathedral (Chiesa Madre di Marsala) description and photos - Italy: Marsala (Sicily). Detailed information about the attraction. Description, photographs and a map showing the nearest significant objects. The title in English is Chiesa Madre di Marsala.

Photo and description

The Cathedral was built in Marsala during the Norman rule in Sicily. Probably, it was erected on the site of an early Christian basilica - in the practice of the Normans, it was customary to build temples on the foundation of previously existing sacred places. Built in the late 12th century, the cathedral was consecrated in honor of the English saint Thomas Beckett, who was a symbol of freedom and human dignity, as well as devotion to Christ and his church. Despite his close friendship with King Henry II, Beckett opposed his decision to try the priests in an out-of-church court. For this, in 1170 he was killed, and already in 1173 he was canonized by Pope Alexander III.

Thanks to private donations and the interaction of ordinary citizens of Marsala, the church became the local center for Christianity and art. The building of the cathedral has undergone numerous changes, including redevelopment and significant restorations. In the middle of the 19th century, a massive dome was erected, and in 1915 Michele Polizzi erected a large organ, which was placed under a painting of 1656 depicting the martyrdom of Thomas Beckett (by Leonardo Milazzo). A little later, in the same place, in the side chapel, a marble altar by Michele Giacolone appeared. Attention is drawn to the statues of Saints Vincenzo Ferreri and Thomas, attributed to Antonello Gagini, and the majestic wooden choir with eight high-backed armchairs on each side.

The 17th century marble baptismal font is crowned with an octagonal wooden casket, and next to it is a canvas by an unknown artist depicting the Baptism of Christ. The chapel of St. Christopher is dedicated to the patron saint of travelers, and is looked after by peasants and workers who clean the church. And in the chapel of St. Rosalia there is a statue of the so-called Blessed Virgin from the Cave. It is also worth noting the 18th century Late Baroque altar in the chapel of the Crucifixion of Christ, covered with valuable Sicilian marble and containing a 16th century wooden crucifix. Among other significant works of art of the cathedral are the statue of Madonna della Mazza from the beginning of the 16th century, the sarcophagus of the Liotta family, memorial plaques depicting Saints Eligius and Olivia, the Archangel Gabriel and John the Baptist, the statue of the Virgin Mary from 1593 in the chapel of the Blessed Virgin of Portasalvo.

At the beginning of the 20th century, after a long period of reconstruction, work was completed on the dome vaults and chapels, adjacent to the main altar, and the floor and marble altar of the presbytery have been restored. The dome itself was raised to a higher level.

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Topic: Cathedral (Chiesa Madre di Marsala) description and photos - Italy: Marsala (Sicily).