Giovanni Maria Amato was born on 15 July 1660. Son of the Prince of Galati, Antonio Amato, and Francesca Alliata, of the Princes of Villafranca, he was a philosopher, historian and archaeologist. After taking the habit of the Society of Jesus, in 1728 he wrote “De principe tempio Panormitano”, a work consisting of 13 books in which he recounts the history of Palermo Cathedral from its first foundation, to the subsequent stages that led to five other rebuildings, up to the present day. The essay was accompanied by numerous original documents, stories and traditions. It is one of the most interesting sources because of the accuracy of the dates and the transcriptions of diplomas that are now lost.
