Church of the Monte

The church and the convent are called del monte because they are located on a large square at the top of Monte Marone. The church in particular is adjacent to the ancient Ventimiglia Castle of which it was part. In fact, the prince of Gangi, D. Giovanni Ventimiglia, welcomed the first Capuchin friars who came to Gangi, giving them on 15/06/1604 the right wing of the manor, with the ancient chapel dedicated to S. Antonio Abate.

The entrance to the church is from Piazza Valguarnera which takes its name from the last princes who owned the Castle. In the center of the square stands the bronze monument, dedicated to the Immaculate Madonna, the work of Father Alberto Farina (1926-2005), an illustrious artist from Gangita.

The entrance is adorned with an artistic stone portal, with Ionic-style capitals dating back to 1700. The church door is made up of two bronze panels by a talented sculptor of Gangitan origins, Antonino Salvo, representing scenes from the life of Saint Francis.

The church consists of a single nave, to which we must add the sacristy, the choir, next to the presbytery, and the recently built chapel, next to the entrance. On the main altar, in a glitter of lights and gold reflections, you can admire the masterpiece of the painter P. Antonio Jerone (1879-1956), OFM, from Gangi, - The Dogma of the Immaculate Conception - which in 1951 was donated to the Convent of Gangi by express will of the author.

 In the choir we find two other large paintings by the same author including the diptych of San Giorgio and San Cristoforo. In other side altars we have a wooden crucifix and other statues, worthy of attention is the statue of the Immaculate Conception, from the Messina school.

On the left side wall, you can admire a Sant'Antonio Abate by the contemporary painter Santo Mocciaro.

Source: Municipality of Gangi

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