Born in 1704 in Nicosia, he studied philosophy and jurisprudence in Palermo before being elected as ecclesiastical judge of the Consistory in 1737. In the following years he became Vicar Capitular of Palermo and Bishop of Syracuse. Here, from 1748, he focused on decorating the upper part of the Cath...
Born in Valencia in 1446, Giovanni Borgia was called to Italy by his uncle in 1480 after already beginning his political career in Spain. A few years later, bhe ecame archbishop of Monreale and later bishop. A close collaborator of Pope Alexander VI, he was also bishop of Ferrara. In 1503, the year ...
The Chapel of the Crucifix’s portal has a richly decorated frame, as if this magnificence prepared the faithful for the treasure inside. The external frame consists of pilasters covered by plinths with two marble statues. In the upper part of the portal, there are decorations taken from the sacred...
The Chapel of the Crucifix’s portal is characterised by the presence of decorations with sacred and profane themes, which intertwine with each other. In particular, we notice the presence of two eagles, a bird with Archbishop Ruano’s coat of arms, dogs, hares, birds in pairs, griffins, snakes, t...
The Capuchin Friar Giovanni da Monreale designed the chapel. There is not much biographical information, but his name appears in documents until mid-1688 when, after being called elsewhere, he was replaced by the Jesuit friar Angelo Italia....
Giovanni Ruano was born in Salamanca in 1618. He became bishop of Cefalù in 1659 and archbishop of Monreale in 1637. He was involved in many of the Monreale Cathedral works, was the case with Ludovico II de Torres, including the Chapel of the Crucifix.
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The centrepiece of the entire chapel is the Crucifix, the spiritual and architectural centre of the complex, which is placed on the wall behind the altar. It is placed at the centre of a set of figures taken from the Old and New Testaments. The wooden sculpture, dating from around 1400, represents C...
In the chapel, there are four marble statues of Old Testament prophets, represented while pointing to the Crucifix. They hold parchment scrolls in their left hand, while two point to the Crucifix on the altar with their right hand and the two closest ones turn to face it. They represent Daniel, Ezek...
On the upper cornice of the pilasters, there is an inscription in small letters that runs through the chapel from right to left. It reads: Joannes Ruano Archiepiscopus Montis Regalis Sacellum Hoc A Fundamentis Erexit. The last part, presumably with the dating, is missing.
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Based on a design by Angelo da Itala, the Palermitan artist Gaetano Signorello constructed the machined brass door that separates the chapel from the Cathedral, while still allowing a glimpse of its rich interior. The door is decorated with symmetrical leaves in the two doors.
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MiC – Ministero della Cultura
Legge 77/2006 - Misure Speciali di Tutela e Fruizione dei Siti Italiani di Interesse Culturale, Paesaggistico e Ambientale, inseriti nella “Lista Del Patrimonio Mondiale”, posti sotto la Tutela dell’ UNESCO Regione Siciliana.
Assessorato dei Beni Culturali e dell’Identità Siciliana, Dipartimento dei Beni Culturali e dell’Identità Siciliana.
Parco archeologico della Valle dei Templi di Agrigento.
