Church of San Gregorio, Palermo

One more reason for a trip around the fascinating and colorful traditional Capo Market is the abundance of fine ancient churches, rich in history. San Gregorio (Saint Gregory) is the first church on the left, after crossing the 18th-century gate called Porta Carini. According to a local tradition, this is where the house of Saint Silvia stood, mother of Pope Gregory (540-604), who was also conceived there, and where he founded the first church. The current building was erected between 1686 and 1688, and attached to the convent of the Agostiniani Scalzi (Barefoot Augustinians). The baroque facade is quite severe, whereas the interior stucco decoration is fair and elegant. The first chapel on the left features an 18th-century painting of the Virgin and Saint Nicholas; the third on the left hosts a 16th-century Holy Mary of Belvedere. The chapel near the apse is dedicated to Saint Silvia and has a fine baroque stucco decoration with two symbolic statues of women and the Holy Father. The presbytery preserves an 18th-century marble inlay altar. The third chapel on the right hosts a fine 18th-century wooden crucifix. On the right by the entrance, a chapel hosts a Virgin of Rosary canvas from the same century.

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