Oratorio del Rosario

A religious gem in the heart of Palermo, the Oratorio del Rosario is best known for its stunning 17th-century interior. Lavishly decorated with wall plaster known as stucco, this sacred space offers a visual experience that’s a bit over the top, but above all, masterfully crafted.

The flurry of allegorical figures and cherubs, some dreamy, some sorrowful, others bursting with energy, makes it easy to forget you’re inside a church. It’s an absolute feast for the senses for lovers of Baroque art. The Oratorio del Rosario was founded in 1573 by the Compagnia del Santissimo Rosario. If the name doesn’t ring a bell, just know that two giants of Sicilian art, Pietro Novelli and Giacomo Serpotta, left their mark here.

In the late 17th and early 18th centuries, Serpotta created a dazzling stucco décor, filling the walls with angels and allegories, while Novelli contributed with his paintings. The undisputed masterpiece, however, is Our Lady of the Rosary by Anthony Van Dyck, painted during his stay in Sicily in the early 1600s. Step inside and you’ll find yourself in a place that feels less like a chapel and more like a baroque jewel box, where every corner reveals another marvel.