Santa Ninfa dei Crociferi

Church of Saint Nympha
Church of Saint Nympha
Chiesa di Santa Ninfa dei Crociferi (in Italian)
	Façade of the church
Religion
Affiliation	Roman Catholic
Province	Archdiocese of Palermo
Rite	Roman Rite
Location
Location	Palermo, Italy
Geographic coordinates	38°06′59.8″N 13°21′37.6″E / 38.116611°N 13.360444°E
Architecture
Style	Sicilian Baroque, Mannerist
Groundbreaking	1601
Completed	1750

The Church of Saint Nympha (Italian: Chiesa di Santa Ninfa or Santa Ninfa dei Crociferi) is a Baroque-Mannerist church of Palermo. The facade rises on Via Maqueda, a block north of the central intersection known as the Quattro Canti, in the quarter of Seralcadi, within the historic centre of Palermo. The church belongs to the Camillians (also known as "Crociferi").

History edit

The church is dedicated to one of the female patron saints of Palermo: Ninfa or Nympha who had lived in Palermo was putatively martyred for her faith in the 4th century. It is one of the first buildings erected after the opening of Via Maqueda, the second most important street of the city.

The order of the Camillians had been founded by the later canonized Camillus de Lellis in 1582, and rapidly spread throughout Italy. Its adherents, known for wearing cassocks with a red cross, and known as the Crociferi were in demand for their service in ministering to the sick.

Construction of the church began on 10 August 1601 with funds assigned by the Senate of Palermo and donations.^[1] Saint Camillus de Lellis attended this inauguration.^[1] In the same area the house of the Crociferi was erected.^[1]

The original design was probably prepared in Rome. In Palermo many architects were involved in the construction: Giovanni Macolino, Giacomo Amato, Giuseppe Clemente Mariani, Ferdinando Lombardo and Giuseppe Venanzio Marvuglia. The church was open in 1660, but because of financial difficulties, the construction was completed only in 1750 with the conclusion of the façade designed by Ferdinando Lombardo. The church houses many artworks of important artists.

Some relics of Saint Camillus are held in the church.

Sir John Acton was buried here after his death in 1811.

Art edit

Funerary monument to Sir John Acton, 6th Baronet

Facade: Martyrdom of Saint Nympha, Gaspare Firriolo

Facade: Saint Camillus takes care of the infirms, Vittorio Perez

Facade: The groundbreaking of the church, Vittorio Perez

Paintings edit

Oil on canvas:

Nympha and the other Virgins of Palermo with Saint Joseph, Mary and the Most Holy Trinity, Gioacchino Martorana
Saint Camillus ascends to Heaven, Gaspare Serenario
Death of Saint Joseph, Guglielmo Borremans
Holy Family, Guglielmo Borremans
Saint Joseph the Carpenter, Guglielmo Borremans
Martyrdom of Saint Venantius, unknown author
God the Father, unknown author