La Magione, officially known as the Basilica della Santissima Trinità del Cancelliere, stands as one of Palermo's most ancient and captivating churches. Nestled near the historic Kalsa district and facing the quaint Piazza Magione, this basilica is a testament to the rich tapestry of Sicily's Norman past and its subsequent historical layers.
Founded in 1191 by Matteo d'Aiello, the chancellor of the Norman Kingdom of Sicily under King William II, La Magione was initially attached to a Cistercian abbey. The church is the last of the grand ecclesiastical structures built during the Norman dynasty of the Hauteville family. The Norman King Tancred chose this sacred site as the final resting place for his son Roger and expressed his own wish to be buried here. However, the church's history took a dramatic turn in 1197 when Emperor Henry VI expelled the Cistercians, who had opposed him, and handed the church over to the Teutonic Knights. This marked the beginning of La Magione's association with the Knights and its transformation into the House of the Teutonic Knights, hence the name La Magione.
The dispute over the church's ownership between the Cistercians and the Teutonic Knights was resolved in 1203 when Emperor Frederick II recognized the Knights' claim, a decision later confirmed by Pope Honorius III in a papal bull. Over the centuries, La Magione witnessed various political changes, including a shift in patronage to commendatory abbots in 1492, with the first being Cardinal Rodrigo Borgia, who later became Pope Alexander VI. In 1782, the church came under the patronage of the Bourbon kings, and in 1787, Ferdinand III of Bourbon aggregated it to the Constantinian Order of Saint George.
La Magione's architectural journey has seen numerous transformations. The church underwent significant restoration in the 19th century under Giuseppe Patricolo, who aimed to restore its original Arab-Norman lines. The 1717 Baroque portal and a neoclassical loggia added to the façade were removed during a 1920 restoration by Francesco Valenti. Post-World War II restorations were necessary due to the damage from the 1943 bombings.
Scavenger hunts in Palermo
Discover Palermo with the digital Scavenger Hunt from myCityHunt! Solve puzzles, master team tasks and explore Palermo with your team!
The consecrated enclosure of La Magione once housed a primitive mosque, a pilgrim hospital, a cloister with a monastery-convent, and the Antioratory of Santa Cecilia, which serves as the entrance to the 18th-century Oratory of the Holy Crucifix at La Magione. The Baroque portal, adorned with statues of Faith and Charity, leads to a small square in front of the church entrances. A medallion with the Constantinian Cross is embedded in the tympanum.
The façade of La Magione features three pointed portals, with the central one being larger and flanked by smaller, splayed ones framed by rusticated blocks. The second tier boasts five single-lancet windows, three of which are blind. The gable end of the façade also features three single-lancet windows, with the central one aligned with the main portal. This motif of single-lancet windows with archivolts is repeated on the lateral sides and apses, with the central apse showcasing prominently projecting intertwined arches, while the smaller apses have slender pointed arches.
Inside, the church presents a unique example of Arab-Norman art, with recessed ogival windows and the intertwined arch motif in the apse, typical of the period. Eight columns, six arches, and various walking levels lead to the presbytery. A wooden loft above the entrance houses a majestic organ. A painting on wood from this church is preserved in the Diocesan Museum of Palermo.
The right nave houses a marble sculpture of the Pietà by Archimede Campini from 1953. The original Renaissance Pietà, commissioned from Antonello Gagini in 1513 and later completed by his son Vincenzo Gagini, was destroyed during World War II bombings, with only fragments remaining. The nave also features a 16th-century marble holy water font, a marble sculpture of the Blessing Christ from the Gagini workshop, and a white marble triptych. This triptych depicts the Holy Virgin with Child and Saint Catherine of Alexandria with the martyr's wheel, flanked by two saints, possibly Saint Nicholas and Saint Bernard of Clairvaux or Saint Dominic. The predella below shows the Crucifixion with Apostles and Saints, originally part of the Dominican-built Chapel of the Rosary.
The left nave includes a stone cross representing the emblem of the 15th-century Teutonic Knights, a funerary monument for Francesco Perdicaro by Vincenzo Gagini, and a marble statue of the Madonna with Child from the Gagini workshop. A Renaissance portal attributed to Francesco Laurana leads to the sacristy.
The presbytery features the Chapel of Saint Luke, with a remarkable tabernacle from the Gagini school dated 1528 and a 15th-century slate painting of the Madonna delle Grazie. The Chapel of Saint Apollonia hosts an altar with the Immaculate Conception. The main apse is adorned with 16 marble columns, and the apse basin features a painting of the Crowned Virgin. The documented painting of the Holy Trinity, depicting the three angels and Abraham worshiping tres vidit et unum adoravit, now resides in the Diocesan Museum.
La Magione is not just a historic monument; it is a living chronicle of Palermo's rich and diverse history. Its walls echo stories of Norman kings, Teutonic Knights, and centuries of religious devotion, making it an essential destination for anyone exploring the heart of Sicily.
Get your Tickets now!
With myCityHunt you can discover thousands of cities around the world in exciting scavenger hunts, treasure hunts and escape games!
myCityHunt vouchers are the perfect gift for many occasions! Surprise your friends and family with this extraordinary event gift. myCityHunt gift vouchers are valid for 3 years from the date of purchase and can be used within this period for a freely selectable city and tour from the myCityHunt portfolio.