Chiesa del Purgatorio - Sciacca

The church was founded in 1330 and rebuilt in 1480 by the noble Pietro Burgio, captain of the city, and dedicated to the beheaded John the Baptist.

At the beginning of the 19th century it was returned to its current state by the Congregation of Purgatory . In the facade with two lateral cantons in local natural stone, the precious Baroque portal stands out, with a medallion carved in the center of the tympanum between two volutes, depicting a soul in purgatory in the flames and, below it, an angel. This shows the Burgio family coat of arms .

The interior has a single nave with three altars and contains several works by Saccensi authors, some by Mariano and Tommaso Rossi. Noteworthy are two cabinets in red marble, two shelves with plinths carved in yellow Siena marble . A door, perhaps from the 16th century, with eight panels decorated in relief, painted in gold on a dark background, through which the sacristy was accessible, was sold to antique dealers.

Francesco Savasta was buried in this church.
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willem vandenameele