Church of the Gesù (Casa Professa)

Mediocrity · CC0

Palermo, PA

The Church of the Gesù, known as Casa Professa, is one of the richest Baroque churches in Palermo: inside, every centimetre is covered with polychrome marbles, stuccoes and frescoes. The façade is plain, and it is easy to walk past without noticing.

It was built by the Jesuits between the late 16th and early 17th centuries and decorated in the 17th and 18th centuries. It was badly damaged by the bombing of 1943 and rebuilt after long restorations.

Besides the church you can visit the museum, the sacristy and the crypt. It stands next to the Ballarò market: from the noise of the stalls you step into the golden silence of a jewel box.

• Monday-Saturday 9:00-18:30, last entry to the museum 18:00. Sunday: not stated on the official website, please check.
• 45 minutes
• Church 2 euros (free for families with children); museum route with guided tour 6 euros (contribution requested)
• All year
• The museum route (sacristy, crypt, six rooms on three floors) is accessible, with a lift too; the church floor is uneven.
• It is near the Ballarò market: the two visits are easy to combine. Look up to see the frescoes on the vault.