Martorana

Martorana or, as it is also called, the church of Santa Maria del Ammirallo, together with the small church of San Cataldo, rises above Piazza Bellini in the center of Palermo. Built in 1145 by George of Antioch, admiral or vizier of Roger II, the church took its current name from a nearby monastery founded in 1193 by Heloise Martorana. On July 3, 2015, it was inscribed by UNESCO on the list of World Cultural Heritage Sites.

Patroness Virgin Mary

Martorana was founded in 1143 by order of George of Antioch, admiral of the Norman king of Sicily, Roger II. It was completed in 1185. It is believed that its design and decoration were carried out and supervised by George of Antioch, who loved the Byzantine style and the art of his native Greece. The church was built to thank the Virgin Mary for her protection and to give the Greek Byzantine monks a home church. The church was named after her and quickly became known as St. Mary Admiral. The coronation of Peter III of Aragon by Sicilian nobles took place in Martorana.

Secular change

At the end of the 16th century, the original facade was demolished, the Martorana was expanded and a front porch was built, connecting the church with the bell tower. In the second half of the 17th century, the main apse was removed, and later a presbytery was erected, decorated with variegated, mixed marble and frescoes. The beautiful tabernacle made of lapis lazuli is noteworthy. In 1750, the impressive Baroque façade, designed by Nicolo Palma, faced the north side of the church, facing Piazza Bellini. Finally, in 1870, Giuseppe Patricolo removed some of the Baroque decorations to return the church to its original state. Since 1937, Martorana belongs to the diocese of Piana degli Albanesi, whose liturgy is still conducted according to the Greek-Byzantine rite.

Church of Christ

At the entrance to the Martorana, among the magnificent gold-plated Byzantine mosaics covering the interior, in the eastern apse there is a mosaic icon depicting Giorgio D'Antioch prostrated before the Virgin. Here the Virgin Mary holds a scroll on which is written in Greek an intercessory prayer addressed to Christ by the Virgin herself for the admiral who dedicated the church to her. On the opposite side is a mosaic of King Roger II dressed as a Byzantine emperor. It is shown here to highlight that in 1098 Pope Urban II issued a decree to Count Roger I giving the rulers of Sicily exclusive jurisdiction in ecclesiastical affairs. On the throne at the top of the dome is Christ Pantocrator with his right hand raised in blessing and the Gospel in his left.