Chiesa di Santa Maria delle Grazie al Ponticello - Palermo

The title of the temple is derived from the existence of a fresco on a wall of a house in the immediate vicinity, depicting the Virgin Mary with Saint John the Evangelist, Saint Paulinus on the right, Saint Philip of Agira and Saint Vitus on the left. The theme of the Virgin surrounded by saints is the subject of the painting, the work of Pietro Novelli.

On March 31, 1542, the foundation of the church is documented under the title "Santa Maria di tutte le Grazie del Ponticello". In 1556, a beautiful temple was rebuilt on a circular plan .

In 1823, the Pollina earthquake caused the destruction of the plasterwork in the upper hall, a work attributed to Giacomo Serpotta, followed by the demolition of the crumbling oratorio. In 1892 there was the reconstruction and dedication of the temple to Our Lady of Lourdes.
After repeated damage during Allied bombings in the Second World War in the first six months of the year, the apsidal part remains standing. In 1962, the temple was reconstructed and redesigned in its current form.

Willem Vandenameele