Piazza della Minerva - Piazzas of Italy by Ultimate Italy

Piazza Bellini

Piazza Bellini one of the most splendid squares in Palermo is close to Piazza Pretoria. It has many beautiful buildings including the Chiesa di Santa Maria dell Ammiraglio, the Chiesa di San Cataldo, the Chiesa di Santa Caterina and the Teatro Bellini.

The Chiesa di Santa Maria dell Ammiragliato is also known as la Martorana. The famous Greek admiral George of Antioch founded this famous church. Construction of this beautiful church began in 1143 and finished in 1151. King Alphonso of Aragon assigned this church to the nuns of a Benedictine convent founded by Eloise Martorana. After this it became more commonly referred to as la Martorana. The nuns modified the church between the sixteenth and eighteenth century. In 1935 Benito Mussolini returned it to the Greek Orthodox Church and is still used by this community for Greek Orthodox Service. It has the status of a cathedral.

The original Norman Romanesque edifice has been replaced by a Baroque façade. The main entrance to the church is through a richly decorated twelfth century bell tower or campanile, which was restored in the nineteenth century.

The interior of the church is spectacular. There are a series of twelfth century mosaics of the Norman period. They are very artistic and beautiful. The nave dome has a splendid traditional Greek image of Christ with the archangels. The newer parts of the church also have frescoes but these are of less artistic importance.

The Chiesa di San Cataldo has preserved its original Arab Norman structure. It has three red domes on top. It is one of the two Norman churches in Palermo. In 1154 Maio de Bari, the despised Emir of William I founded this church. It has had an interesting history as it was converted to a post office in the nineteenth century. Currently it is the seat of the Knights of the Sepulchre.

The Chiesa di Santa Caterina was founded in 1596. It is built during the renaissance with a double ramp staircase. However it has baroque decorations as well.

Teatro Bellini was formerly known as Teatro Carolina. Although it was built in the eighteenth century some additions were made in the nineteenth century.

Although Piazza Bellini is popular for its churches one can spend a few enjoyable moments at the Pizzeria Bellini a picturesque café with a pleasant outdoor terrace. It is located in the Teatro Bellini in the shadow of the la Martorana Church.