Saint George of the Genoese (Italian: San Giorgio dei Genovesi) is a Renaissance-style, Roman Catholic church located near the port of La Cala, on Via Buon Pastore in the ancient quarter of the Loggia, in Palermo, region of Sicily, Italy.
History
Before the construction of this church the Genoese community of Palermo celebrated its religious services in a chapel located in the complex of San Francesco d'Assisi.[1] In 1576 the Genoese bought the little church of San Luca and the surrounding land, located near the port. They demolished the old church and planned the construction of a new temple dedicated to their patron, Saint George.[1]
The architectural project was produced by Giorgio Di Faccio[2] with the assistance of Battista Carabbio. The construction of the church was the result of the new financial balance of power of the city. In fact, the Genoeses overtook the Pisans in the context of banking in the Kingdom of Sicily. Many rich Genoese families contributed to the construction. The church was completed in 1596.
The church now lies at the edge of the urban settlement, cornered by the interstate highway and Via Cavour. To the north are is the dilapidated monument to the Obelisk for the 13 Victims dedicated to the revolutionaries shot near here by Bourbon authorities a month prior to the liberation by Garibaldi.
