chiesa del Santissimo Salvatore (église du Saint-Sauveur)

The site of the present church was formerly the location of a Basilian (Eastern Rite) monastery and church dedicated to the Saviour, founded in 1072 by the Norman Robert Guiscard. Royal patronage of the church and monastery continued under Hohenstaufen rule. It was said that Constance, Queen of Sicily (1154-1198) was confined to the church as a nun from her childhood until the age of 30, due to the prediction that "her marriage would destroy Sicily". In 1501, the monastery was converted to the Latin Rite.
In 1528, a new church was built on the site with three naves; it was positioned in an opposite orientation to the former building. In 1682, the present layout was designed by Paolo Amato, who was assisted by the Jesuit Angelo Italia. Construction proceeded until a formal inauguration in 1700 and consecration in 1704. Much of the interior decoration was added during the 18th century. An earthquake in 1726 caused much damage to the church, including the loss of the main altar designed by Giacomo Amato and Gaetano Lazzara. This led to a further reinforcement of the large dome in 1763 under the direction of Vincenzo Giovenco. The cupola interior was frescoed by Vito D'Anna, who painted a Glory of St Basil (now fragmentary). Further decoration included the pavements of the Chapels of St Basil (left) and Santa Rosalia (right). The pavement of the main floor was designed in 1856 by Giuseppe Patricolo.
In 1943, during World War II, the interior of the church was damaged by Allied bombardment of the city. Many of the paintings in the church were destroyed. The present building is only the result of a major restoration, utilizing when possible the remnants of the former decoration. The building plan is an elongated dodecagon, circumscribed by an ellipse whose major axis is from…