Church of Saint Olivia

The Church of Saint Oliva is a catholic church situated in Alcamo, Sicily, in the province of Trapani.

Historical hints

The foundation of the Church of Saint Olivia dates back to 1533.^[1][2] Initially, the church had a nave and two aisles, in gothic-catalan style.

In 1687, the church founded the night congregation of the Seven Pains, formed by artists. ^[3]

In 1724, the church was rebuilt in the present form, with a longitudinal plan that had one nave, after the design of Giovanni Biagio Amico,^[1] who was an architect from Trapani.

After its construction, the church gave the name to the square on which it faces (on the side of the main entrance), called "piano Sant'Oliva".^[2] In the 17th century, the square was enlarged with the building of the Church of Madonna of the Stellario (finished in 1625) and the church of the Jesuits' College (1684). Probably during this period, the square was renamed "piazza Maggiore": This name remained until 1875, when it was changed to the present name "piazza Ciullo".^[2]

In 1927, the Congregation of Saint Rita,^[4] and in 1933, the Congregation of Our Lady of Sorrows,^[4] were founded in this church. Later, in 1949, Catholic Action (Azione Cattolica) began its activity inside it.^[5]

During the night, sometime between the 7th and 8th of August, 1987, a fire destroyed the ceiling of the church. It was rebuilt some years later thanks to the activity of Sovrintendenza ai Beni Culturali of Sicily.^[1][6]

In 1990, there were some restoration works done to the inside of the church on sculptures, paintings, two wooden organs, golden stucco frames and some wooden fittings.^[7]

Description and works

Map of Saint Oliva's church
A: main door
B: side entrance
C: exit from the bell tower's side
D: entrance of sacristy
E: secondary exit
1-4: chapels in the left nave
5: apse
6-9: chapels in the right nave.

The church has two portals: the main one opens onto piazza Ciullo. The other side, with the statue of Saint Olivia on it, faces on Corso 6 Aprile. Initially, there was a main portal dating back to 1572,^[1] but after the acquisition of some funds in connection with the Great Jubilee, both portals were replaced by two golden bronze portals realized by Vincenzo Settipani. They were made to represent "Jesus while entering the Cenacle with closed doors" (on the main entrance) and "Jesus' entering Jerusalem" (on the side entrance).

At the corner of the church adjoining Corso 6 Aprile, there stands the bell tower, without a pinnacle.^[1]

Inside the Church there are marble polychrom altars made by Mariano and Simone Pennino.^[1] The walls are decorated by stuccoes created by Gabriele Messina in 1756, and by Francesco and Giuseppe Russo in 1771.^[1]

On the high altar, there is a painting called "the Purgatory's Souls set free through the Mass' sacrifice", realized by Pietro Novelli^[1] in 1639, and ordered by the Congregation of Purgatory.^[8]

Additionally, the church contains the following sculptures:

• The marble statue dedicated to Saint Olivia, made by Antonello Gagini in 1511,^[1][9] which was commissioned by the brethren of Saint Olivia.^[8]
• A marble group of Annunciation, carved in 1545 by Antonino and Giacomo Gagini,^[1] which come from the church of the Annunciation.^[10]
• The marble statue of Saint Luke, made by the Gagini family.^[1]
• The marble statue of Saint Angel, also made by the Gagini family.^[1]
• The statue of Saint Eligio made in white marble from Carrara and carved by Filippo Pennino in 1767.^[11] It was ordered by the brothers of Saint Eligio.^[8] Before 1577, Saint Eligio's altar belonged to Maestranza of blacksmiths;^[12]
• The statue of Saint Joseph with the Child, placed on the altar belonging to Maestranza of carpenters and to Maestranza of coopers.^[12] The realization of this statue was assigned to Girolamo Bagnasco.^[13]
• The wooden statue representing Saint Rita, made by Luigi Santifaller (1962);^[14]
• The wooden statue of Our Lady of Miracles, realized by Luigi Santifaller (1949).^[15]

• 

  Main portal

• 

  Bell tower

• 

  The church's interior

• 

  High altar

• 

  Statue of Saint Olivia

• 

  The Annunciation

• 

  Saint Eligio

• 

  The Chapel of the Crucified and Our Lady of Sorrows

• 

  Saint Joseph with the infant Jesus

• 

  Saint Rita

• 

  Our Lady of Miracles

Notes

Bibliography

• Cataldo, Carlo (2001). La conchiglia di S. Giacomo. Alcamo: Edizioni Campo. 
• Renda, Saverio. Universa nostra caritas De gloria Olivae (La gloria di Gerusalemme). Litotipografia Abate. 
• Regina, Vincenzo (1997). Alcamo: la chiesa di S. Oliva nella storia e nell'arte dei Gagini, di Pietro Novelli e di Giovan Biagio Amico. Alcamo: Cartogram. 

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Santa Oliva (Alcamo).

Coordinates: 37°58′50″N 12°57′52″E / 37.9806°N 12.9645°E / 37.9806; 12.9645