Church and Convent of the Capuchin Fathers

STAGE 7 – CHURCH AND CONVENT OF THE CAPUCHIN FATHERS

Nestled in the heart of Bisacquino, the Capuchin Complex is a place steeped in spirituality, history and culture.

Work on the construction of the church and the adjoining convent began in late 1633 under the provincialate of Father Francesco d’Alcamo, thanks to the contribution of the local government and the generosity of the faithful.

CHURCH OF THE CAPPUCCINI FATHERS
The church, dedicated to Saints Joachim and Anne, is essential in layout externally, with a gabled facade and architraved portal surmounted by a rectangular window.

The interior is characterized by its sober architectural elegance: a single nave and five wooden side altars, following the style proper to the Order of Capuchin Friars Minor.

In this place of worship, a number of works of art, dating from the second half of the 18th century, are also worthy of special consideration:

– The large canvas on the right altar by Brother Felice da Sambuca, depicting the Madonna Enthroned with Saints and Capuchin Friars.

– The painting made by Brother Felice da Sambuca, depicting Blessed Bernard of Corleone. The canvas can be dated after 1768, the year the friar was declared “Blessed” by Pope Clement XIII. On June 10, 2001, the blessed was canonized a “Saint” by John Paul II.

– The impressive altarpiece with the Holy Family, with Saints Anne, Joachim, Elizabeth, Zechariah and John, attributed to Father Fedele da San Biagio.

– The wooden tabernacle in the center of the high altar, with valuable Crucifix by Trapani sculptor Fra Benedetto Valenza.

Next to the church is an ancient burial ground dating from 1759, where the mummified bodies of friars and faithful were kept, a striking testimony to the Capuchin cult of death. The remains of a fresco on the high altar depicting St. Francis freeing souls from purgatory are visible.

CIVIC MUSEUM

Today the premises of the former convent house the Civic Museum, a jewel of culture and memory that allows visitors to take a journey through time among artifacts and wonders.

The ground floor displays naturalistic and archaeological exhibits, with artifacts ranging from the Neolithic to theIron Age, from the Hellenistic period to the Roman period, and from theearly Middle Ages to the 20th century.

The second floor invites you to discover the material culture of the area: reconstructed rooms tell the story of daily life and traditional crafts of Bisacquino, including the ancient art of mechanical clock making from the 18th century.

A special section is dedicated to Frank Capra, the famous Italian-American filmmaker originally from Bisacquino and the phenomenon ofemigration of Italians who left in search of greater fortune abroad.