Church of S. Chiara (S. Maria Assunta)
I
n corso Vittorio Emanuele, on the left coming from the Church of S. Francesco. The church of Santa Chiara (officially called the church of Santa Maria Assunta). Built between 1730 and 1758 on a project by Rosario Gagliardi, the adjoining monastery is now a museum.
The central plan is elliptical in shape, on the model of the Roman elliptical churches built between the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. The exterior is characterized by the presence of a bell tower, decorated in the corners by two capitals. The Baroque architectural style is best recognized inside, thanks to the numerous decorations with stuccos and cherubs. On the twelve internal columns there are the statues of the apostles made by the decorator and plasterer Basile. In the left altar there is a sixteenth-century marble Madonna and Child attributed to Antonello Gagini. Originally the only portal of the church was the one located along Corso Vittorio Emanuele; towards the end of the eighteenth century another was added on the side of via Pier Capponi, to allow access to the church, as the first portal became unusable following the lowering of the road level.
Card insertion: Ignatius Caloggero
Photo: Ignazio Caloggero
Information contributions: Ignazio Caloggero, Web
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