{"id":67906,"date":"2015-09-17T16:17:00","date_gmt":"2015-09-17T15:17:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sicile-sicilia.net\/?p=67906"},"modified":"2026-10-12T21:52:56","modified_gmt":"2026-10-12T20:52:56","slug":"church-of-saint-matthew-at-the-cassaro","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sicile-sicilia.net\/en\/church-of-saint-matthew-at-the-cassaro","title":{"rendered":"Church of Saint Matthew at the Cassaro"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Church of Saint Matthew<\/strong> (San Matteo al Cassaro<\/em>) is a typically Baroque building, begun in 1634 for the Confraternity of the Miserenimi, founded by the Franciscan friar Fra Leonardo Galici<\/strong>, with the aim of bringing mercy to the penitents of Purgatory<\/em>. In the 12th century, there was a church dedicated to the same saint opposite the present one.<\/p>\n

Presentation and visit<\/h2>\n
\"Frescoes<\/a>

Frescoes of the vault<\/p><\/div>\n

The Baroque facade was built in 1660 by Carlo D’Aprile<\/strong> and Gaspare Guercio<\/strong>, richly adorned with columns, volutes and cornices.
The interior has a basilical plan with three naves decorated with marble cladding, frescoes and stuccoes.
Of particular note are the frescoes by Vito D’Anna<\/strong>, including the Apotheosis of Saints Matthew and Matthias,<\/em> and on the vault the souls freed from Purgatory<\/em>, or in the dome the Triumph of the Virgin<\/em>.
At the base of the pillars supporting the drum of the dome are the statues of the four theological virtues (Faith, Justice, Hope and Charity) by Sperpotta<\/strong> and Sanseverino<\/strong>.
The gilded stuccoes located between the arches, with the twelve apostles, are also by Bartolomeo Sanseverino.
Giacomo Serpotta<\/strong> is also the author of the sculptural group of the pediment above the high altar, with the Seraphim accompanying the Lamb<\/em> on the Book of Revelation<\/em>, and on the counter-facade, the Christ and the souls in purgatory<\/em>.
Among the dozens of precious works preserved here, let us mention in particular two canvases by Pietro Novelli<\/strong> (fourth chapels), the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple<\/em>, and the mystical marriage of the Virgin<\/em>, with Saint Anne between Mary and Joseph.<\/p>\n\n\n