Santa Maria della Concezione in Syracuse
The floor in ceramic tiles of Capodimonte. |
The church, consisting of just one nave,
has a splendid floor, laid in ceramic
tiles of Capodimonte, painted by hand, which creates a phantasmagorical
multicolored carpet.
The space is very bright and is covered
by a frescoed ceiling in the rococo style.
Four magnificent side altars frame baroque
paintings by diligent local artists.
Rather than on individual works of art,
all in all the impact created by the church is based on the whole, airy
and elegant, which refutes the accusation of the Sicilian Baroque as being
"heavy" and overloaded.
The choir of Santa Maria della Concezione in Syracuse (1703) |
Standing on the interior of the façade
is the great choir of 1703, which is a typical example of those "choirs
of nuns" present in all the churches formerly attached to convents.
The simple iron grating, transformed by
Baroque artists into lavish decorative elements, wraps around the entire
space, creating an area of genuine confinement to which by ancient custom
were relegated daughters for whom a family would not, or could not, pay
an adequate "dowry".
Baroque architects were then confined,
here as in many other churches scattered throughout Italy, to make choices
halfway between a jail (to take in the unruly girls) and a fortress
(to keep out very bold young men).
In the Sicilian baroque the grating becomes
a decorative element, as in this church, so that rather than being hidden
discreetly it stands on display, making it round, golden, and prominent,
as they are in this church including also to two balconies, midway up,
on either side of the main altar.
How to Reach Santa Maria della Concezione
from the Algilà
Ortigia Charme Hotel.
The church is located a few hundred meters
/ feet from the Hotel Algilà, a short distance from the Duomo.
One is advised, therefore, to make the journey on foot, walking along the
streets of baroque Syracuse.
Conditions of Visiting.
Santa Maria della Concezione is open during
hours normally observed by churches.
During services visits are not permitted.
Both male and female visitors are asked
to avoid entering in clothes that are too skimpy, like shorts, sundresses,
and the like.
If one plans to walk about with light
clothing it would be advisable to bring along clothing suitable
for a visit.
There are no major architectural barriers along the road, but the passage from the vestibule of the church (which is at street level) to the church itself has three steps, which require assistance for those in wheelchairs.
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