Church of the Purgatory
Description

Church of the Purgatory 

purgatory

The church, which dominates the current Piazza della Repubblica (Piazza degli Archi also known as Piazza dei Comizi), was opened to the public in 1658 [1], its main benefactor was Don Giovanni Valerio Mazza who probably also provided the necessary premises for its construction [2]. It did not have to suffer much damage from the earthquake of 1693, so much so that in the same year the sacraments could be administered there on behalf of the parish of San Giovanni which in the meantime had settled in Ragusa Superiore in the district of Patro. In the XNUMXth century the church was rebuilt larger and assumed its present form: with three naves, with a tripartite facade and Corinthian columns on high plinths. The foundations of the bell tower, in the rear left part of the church, rest on the rock and on ancient walls that should be part of the ancient Byzantine walls of ancient Ibla. It is possible to see these ruins passing by what is called the “Climb of the clock”. 

From the outside, on the right side, it is possible to see a large arched buttress, which crosses via Aquila Sveva, probably built to make the building more stable after the earthquake.

The interior, with three naves, is separated by Corinthian columns in pitch stone and embellished with marble altars and ancient paintings. On the main altar stands the large canvas representing the "Souls in Purgatory" by Francesco Manno nicknamed the Francescone (1754-1831), it is said that Manno enjoyed an excellent reputation as an artist in Rome and that a Ragusan priest from the Nifosi family provided the artist the concept and the sketch of the work [3]

[1] Eugenio Sortino Throne: Ragusa Ibla Sacra. page 118

[2] Manuscript of 700 by Leonardo Lauretta: Report on Ragusa and topographical state of the same. As it was and was before the 1693 earthquake. Reported by Sortino Trono Eugenio in his “The Counts of Ragusa and the County of Modica. Ragusa 1910. p. 347

[3] Anonymous: Ragusa di Sicilia - Small guide of the anonymous traveler from 1898. pag. 48

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