While the interior features lavish and ostentatious frescoes, typical of the Baroque era, set alongside the golden splendour of Byzantine mosaics, the exterior is characterised by a delightful mix of styles: representative elements typical of Norman and Islamic-derived architecture, such as the arti...
The melody of Basilian chants welcomes the faithful who, already in the narthex, meet the two mosaic panels with scenes depicting Admiral George of Antioch kneeling before the Madonna and Roger II crowned directly by the hands of Christ. The sound and rhythm become louder and faster: the prayer reac...
The Martorana floor tiles have intense colours and the lasting coolness of marble. The Martorana floor consists of eleven opus sectile panels, decorated with quincunxes and geometric motifs. The entire floor is made of white, porphyry, serpentine and antique yellow marble and is characterised by a s...
An intense scent of incense wafts through the church
The entire sacred space, elevated by 26 centimetres, was separated from the rest of the church by the iconostasis, an enclosure, typical of Greek worship, made of marble slabs and aligned with the columns. An intense fragrance of incense spreads from this concealed space and reaches every corner of ...
A play of light illuminates and makes the mosaics shine
The church is divided into nine bays, distinguished by four columns that form a square space in the centre and support the dome. The interior lighting, which creates a rich interplay of light with the mosaic decoration of the floor, the vaults and the sanctuary, is provided by the dome's eight windo...
Touching the bell tower means touching smooth and rough surfaces. The decorations, in fact, determine an alternation that makes the construction impressive and dynamic. The shapes engraved on the bell tower are varied: clovers, interlaces, circles, rhombuses and even star motifs, the latter being ty...
The Church of Santa Maria dell'Ammiraglio bell tower chimes to announce the upcoming celebration. The melodious sound awakens the souls of those strolling briskly in Piazza Bellini and draws the people towards the Martorana. The bell tower is one of the best preserved elements of the church, and is ...
Santa Maria dell’Ammiraglio: one of the most beautiful constructions you will ever see
The traveller Ibn Gubayr admired the Church of Santa Maria dell'Ammiraglio and described it as "one of the most beautiful constructions you will ever see". Over the centuries, the church of Santa Maria dell'Ammiraglio has changed its appearance: numerous reconstructions have transformed the ancient ...
In the brightly lit square, you can hear the carefree sounds of children playing catch and the chatter of adults strolling peacefully by. Do you hear that? The ladies almost parade through the square, showing off their luxurious gowns made of fine cloth. For a moment, no one thinks about the labours...
From 1434, the church was entrusted to the Benedictine nuns of the nearby monastery, founded in 1193 by Goffredo and Eloisa Martorana. The church, thus connected to the convent, began being called "La Martorana". The Martorana nuns are linked to a singular and very tasty tradition, that of the fruit...
MiC – Ministero della Cultura
Legge 77/2006 - Misure Speciali di Tutela e Fruizione dei Siti Italiani di Interesse Culturale, Paesaggistico e Ambientale, inseriti nella “Lista Del Patrimonio Mondiale”, posti sotto la Tutela dell’ UNESCO Regione Siciliana.
Assessorato dei Beni Culturali e dell’Identità Siciliana, Dipartimento dei Beni Culturali e dell’Identità Siciliana.
Parco archeologico della Valle dei Templi di Agrigento.
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