Chiesa di S. Nicola da Tolentino Missionari OMI - Palermo

The church is connected to the neighboring monastery, built in 1507 under the name of S. Maria del Popolo by Sister Lucrezia Di Leo of the Clarisse order, on the site that was the city's Jewish ghetto until 1492 and where a synagogue was popularly called 'mosque'. After the closure of the monastery in 1579, the church was occupied by the College of Notaries.

In 1596, the church and monastery were transferred to the Augustinian Fathers , who had a new, majestic church built in 1609 . The facade is simple but powerful, on two levels, framed by robust pilasters; it was completed in the second half of the 17th century and restored around 1922. On the main portal is the niche statue of Saint Nicholas , which was placed there in 1687.

The basilica has three naves, divided by mighty pillars, with a large transept, a rectangular chapel and deep side chapels . The church has suffered a lot of damage over the centuries; Today the church seems bare and the bare walls show off the vastness of the space better.

Particularly interesting are the two paintings by Pietro Novelli , seen in the chapels of the transept: "The Virgin and Saint Augustine" and "Saint Nicholas of Tolentino"; the 15th century baptismal font on a 17th century pedestal and the 18th century high altar of mixed marble.

Willem Vandenameele