Santa Maria Maggiore (Saint Mary the Greater) is the

Roman Catholic Roman or Romans most often refers to: *Rome, the capital city of Italy * Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD * Roman people, the people of ancient Rome *'' Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a let ...

church located on Largo Santa Maria Maggiore in the town of Nicosia, in the

province of Enna Enna ( it, Provincia di Enna; sicilian language, Sicilian: ''Pruvincia di Enna''; officially ''Libero consorzio comunale di Enna'') is a Provinces of Italy, province in the autonomous island region of Sicily in Italy. It was created in 1927, out ...

, region of

Sicily (man) it, Siciliana (woman) , population_note = , population_blank1_title = , population_blank1 = , demographics_type1 = Ethnicity , demographics1_footnotes = , demographi ...

, Italy.

History and Description

A church at this site was erected in the 12th century, replacing a pre-existing mosque, by the Norman conqueror, Conte Ruggero. The church was initially called ''Santa Maria la Scala'', presumably because of its elevation atop a hill relative to the town. Immigration to Troini led to the expansion of the church, and its rededication in 1207 as Santa Maria Maggiore. This church was destroyed in 1757 by landslides. Reconstruction of the basilica began in 1767 under the architect Serafino da Catania, but only by 1800 were all three naves completed. Consecration is recalled by the fresco by

Ettore Ximenes Ettore Ximenes (11 April 1855, Palermo 20 December 1926, Rome) was an Italian sculptor. Biography Son of Antonio Ximenes and Giulia Tolentino, a Sicilian noble woman, Ettore Ximenes initially embarked on literary studies but then took up scul ...

in the vault of the apse. The second story of the facade remains unfinished. In front of the church, at the street level, is the small oratory or chapel of San Sebastiano. Nicosia BasilicaSantaMariaMaggiore 009 5036

Nicosia BasilicaSantaMariaMaggiore 009 5036

The facade is preceded by a scenic staircase leading to the highly sculpted central portal. This portal was donated by a local noble, the Baron of Sant'Agrippina. Atypical for churches, it contains pagan imagery atop the pilasters, depicting from right to left: 1)

Bacchus In ancient Greek religion and Greek mythology, myth, Dionysus (; grc, wikt:Διόνυσος, Διόνυσος ) is the god of the grape-harvest, winemaking, orchards and fruit, vegetation, fertility, insanity, ritual madness, religious ecstas ...

, god of wine; 2) Venus, goddess of love with Cupid; 3) goddess Ceres with a palm leaf in her hand, and 4)

Aeolus In Greek mythology, Aeolus or Aiolos (; grc, Αἴολος , ) is a name shared by three mythical characters. These three personages are often difficult to tell apart, and even the ancient mythographers appear to have been perplexed about which A ...

, the god of winds. The flanking smaller portals include the one intended for the Congregation of the

Monte di Pietà A mount of piety is an institutional pawnbroker run as a charity in Europe from Renaissance times until today. Similar institutions were established in the colonies of Catholic countries; the Mexican Nacional Monte de Piedad is still in operatio ...

and on the right, the door used only in the Jubilee. The central nave leads to the main altar sculpted by Salvatore Valenti; but behind is the masterwork in the church, the marble ''Cona'' by Antonello Gagini, which was present in the prior church since 1512. The work depicts scenes from the life of the Virgin, surrounded by sculptures of the saints and evangelists. Atop the structure is a statue of St

Michael the Archangel Michael (; he, מִיכָאֵל, lit=Who is like El od, translit=Mīḵāʾēl; el, Μιχαήλ, translit=Mikhaḗl; la, Michahel; ar, ميخائيل ، مِيكَالَ ، ميكائيل, translit=Mīkāʾīl, Mīkāl, Mīkhāʾīl), also ...

. In the half-dome of the apse, is a fresco depicting the ''Coronation of the Virgin'' (1903) by

. The fresco incorporated portraits of prominent townspeople. The altar in the right nave has a 17th-century crucifix by Vincenzo Calamaro, whose veneration grew when it was used in processions during plague epidemics in past centuries. In the altar on the left is a copy of the ''Crucifixion'' by

Tintoretto Tintoretto ( , , ; born Jacopo Robusti; late September or early October 1518Bernari and de Vecchi 1970, p. 83.31 May 1594) was an Italian painter identified with the Venetian school. His contemporaries both admired and criticized the speed wit ...

found in the Scuola Grande di San Rocco in Venice. The church has a wooden episcopal throne, putatively used by Emperor Charles V on his visit of the city, and thus now decorated with a Hapsburg double headed eagle. In the church are some wooden icons attriputed to Giambattista Li Volsi; a marble Madonna attributed to Francesco Laurana; and an altarpiece depicting the ''Martyrdom of St Lawrence'' by Giacomo Campione.Eco Museo Nicosia
website, entry on church.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Maria Maggiore Nicosia 18th-century Roman Catholic church buildings in Italy Maria Maggiore, Santa