Church of Santo Spirito
The Church of Santo Spirito (Holy Spirit) in Agrigento old town.
Associated with the name of Marchisia Prefoglio who wanted its construction in 1299. The beautiful facade is made up of a great Gothic portal, with pointed arches, surmounted by a rose window dating from the time of the foundation. The upper floor of the complex with three bell towers speaks the language of late seventeenth century architecture. Beyond this facade you will discover the beautiful nave built as a “hall of preaching” without apse, according to the baroque canon, vivaciously decorated with fantasy. The nave is interrupted by the Triumphal Arch, with a stucco decoration depicting the Glory of the Holy Trinity. Above the entrance there is the choir, supported by four columns. The side walls of the nave, pleasantly decorated with stuccowork by the famous master sculptor Serpotta, show scenes from the childhood of Jesus Christ. On the left: the Nativity, the Adoration; on the right: the Flight into Egypt and the Presentation in the Temple. The scenes are crowned by graceful cherubs in the most bizarre attitudes, in relation to the scenes shown below. On the left wall, in a niche, just after the entrance, we admire the marble statue of the Madonna of the Spring and Child by Gagini. In the big chapel a represantation of the Glory with God the Father and the Holy Spirit, and below St. Bernard and St. BenedictExcerpt from the book “Agrigento, visita del Centro Storico” by Giuseppe Di Giovanni. Courtesy of the author. Translated by Michele Gallo
