Tourist Attraction in Monreale:
Basilica Abbaziale di San Martino delle Scale

The abbey basilica of San Martino delle Scale (de Scalis) and, the annexed monastery of the Order of St. Benedict, of the Cassinese congregation constitute a monumental aggregate, located in the hamlet of San Martino delle Scale di Monreale. The cultural life of the abbey is lively and original: artistic productions and commissions, publishing activities, teaching. The driving force of the studies is undoubtedly, the library which, in renovated and enlarged structures during the eighteenth century, becomes an inexhaustible lung, which attracts scholars and researchers from all over and in every age. The environment together with the Fountain in the cloister called Cortile dei Marmi, included in the monastery enclosure, works by the architect Giovanni Biagio Amico. To the same artist belong, the internal architecture of the temple including, the ornaments of the high altar and the side altars, decorated in marble of the choir, inside the temple, and finally the external crowning of the place of worship. The design of the new prospectus of the monastery is by the architect Giuseppe Venanzio Marvuglia who in 1775 built the new dormitory. The facade of this new structure, approximately 137 meters long, is divided into three orders and overlooks Palermo. Latin cross plan, dome, choir, two apses on the sides of the choir, side chapels in the transept, ten minor chapels or five per side nave. In 1602 the interior was entirely decorated with stuccos. In the pillars of the cruise there are the statues depicting San Benedetto da Norcia, San Gregorio Magno, San Placido and San Mauro. Double or two-faced altar and organ by Raffaele la Valle. The marble medallions depicting the apostles St. Peter, St. Paul, St. John and St. Andrew are set on the walls of the choir, completing the pictorial cycle by Paolo De Matteis in 1727: on the right: San Benedetto meets Totila, king of the Ostrogoths, San Placido and Santa Flavia, San Gregorio Magno; Left: San Mauro and Minister Floro, San Martino, San Benedetto depicted with San Mauro, San Placido, Tertullo, Eutichio. Absidiola right: Chapel of the Virgin. The room is decorated with marble statues depicting the Virgin Mary located between Sant'Agata and Santa Lucia, works from 1368. Right transept: Chapel of San Martino. On the altar there is a painting of San Martino, by Filippo Paladini. Left transept: Chapel of San Benedetto. On the altar there is a painting depicting Saint Benedict who distributes the Rule to religious, military and knightly orders that observe the Rule of Saint Benedict, by Pietro Novelli. The baptismal font adjacent to the sacristy is dated 1396. Text processing: Giovambattista Spagnuolo (Myooni)

Attractions in Monreale