Page 57 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Sicily

EAST P ALERMO  55

6 San Francesco
d’Assisi
Piazza San Francesco d’Assisi. Map 2 D3.
Tel 091-616 28 19. Open 9am–5pm
Mon–Fri, 9–11am Sat
This church has retained its
medieval aspect despite the
numerous alterations it has
undergone. Built in the early
13th century together with
the Franciscan monastery, it
was destroyed by Frederick II
soon afterwards when he was
excommunicated by the Pope.
In 1255, work on the new
church began, reaching
completion only in 1277. The
15th and particularly the
16th centuries witnessed
Stage backdrop in the Museo delle Marionette depicting knights errant additions and alterations; for
example, the wooden roof
and Brussels. The second room preserved its original furnishings. was replaced and the
has a collection of figures Palazzo Mirto was built in the presbytery was enlarged.
belonging to puppeteers from 18th century on top of pre- After the bombardments
Palermo, Castellammare del existing 15th- and 16th-century suffered in 1943 the church
Golfo, Alcamo and Partinico. architectural structures. The was restored to its original
Among the stage scenery palazzo passed from the state. The austere façade has
here is Charlemagne’s aristocratic De Spuches a large rose window and
Council and Alcina’s family to the equally Gothic portal, while the interior
Garden. The noble Filangeri, boasts many noteworthy
international section who lived here works of art, including sculpt-
includes Chinese until 1980, when ures by Giacomo Serpotta and
shadow theatre the last heir Antonello Gagini. The side
puppets, Thai hun donated it to chapels house funerary stelae
krabok, Vietnamese, the Region of Sicily. and sarcophagi.
Burmese and An 18th-century The fourth chapel in the left-
Rajasthan marionettes, portal with the coat hand aisle is the Cappella
and Javanese wayang of arms of the Filangeri Mastrantonio, with one of the
figures, as well as Coat of arms of family leads to the first Renaissance works in Sicily,
animated figures from Palazzo Mirto courtyard, where a the portal by Francesco Laurana.
Oceania and Africa. The majestic marble Behind the high altar is a
theatre of puppeteer Gaspare stairway takes you to the piano wooden choir built in 1520, as
Canino di Alcamo has backcloths nobile. Here there is a series of well as 17th-century paintings
showing the feats of Orlando; elegantly furnished drawing of the Resurrection, Ascension
most productions of the Opera rooms. The first of these is the and Mission.
dei Pupi (puppet opera) featured Sala degli Arazzi (Tapestry
the exploits of Charlemagne’s Hall), with mythological
knights errant. scenes painted by
The museum also organizes Giuseppe Velasco in
the Festival di Morgana (see p45), 1804, then there is the
which features puppet operas “Chinese” room, and
from around the world, all lastly the so-called
performed in Italian. Baldachin Salon with late
18th-century allegorical
frescoes. The furniture
5 Palazzo Mirto and other furnishings
date from the 18th and
Via Merlo 2. Map 2 D3. Tel 091-616 19th centuries. Some
75 41. Open 9am–6pm Tue–Sat, rooms overlook a court-
9am–1pm Sun & hols. Closed Mon &
yard garden dominated
This is a splendid example of by a theatrical Rococo
a centuries-old nobleman’s fountain flanked by The drawing rooms in Palazzo Mirto, still with their
mansion that has miraculously two aviaries. original furniture

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