Sant'Alberto, Erice
| Church of Sant'Alberto | |
|---|---|
| Chiesa di Sant'Alberto / Chiesa di Sant'Alberto dei Bianchi | |
 The church | |
 | |
| 38°2′13.942″N 12°35′8.300″E / 38.03720611°N 12.58563889°E | |
| Location | Erice, Sicily, Italy |
| Country | Italy |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| History | |
| Status | Church |
| Founded | 15th century |
| Dedication | Saint Albert of Trapani |
| Architecture | |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Baroque |
| Completed | 1646 (enlarged) |
Sant'Alberto (Italian: Chiesa di Sant'Alberto, literally "Church of Saint Albert"), also known as the Church of Sant'Alberto of the Whites (Chiesa di Sant'Alberto dei Bianchi), is a Roman Catholic church in the historic centre of Erice, Sicily.
History
[edit]A notarial deed of 1423 records that the church of Sant’Alberto already existed and was dedicated to Saint Albert of Trapani, whom the people of Erice regarded as a fellow citizen.[1] In 1568 the Compagnia dei Bianchi (Company of the Whites) was established there as a Monte di Pietà, assisting the poor and providing spiritual support for those condemned to death.[1]
The church was enlarged in 1578 and again during the early 17th century, partly through civic subscriptions supported by the town council.[1][2] In 1640 the patrician Antonio Palma donated a marble statue of the saint, attributed to Nicolò Travaglia, for the main altar. The church was completed in 1646.[2]
The single-nave interior was decorated with four side altars dedicated to Saint Vitus, Saint Lucy, Our Lady of Sorrows, and the Four Martyrs. In the late 18th century the church was adorned with white stuccoes, while in 1794 Don Giacomo Coppola sponsored further decoration of the walls and vault.[1][2]
Devotion to the saint declined during the 19th and 20th centuries and the confraternity was dissolved. The church fell into disuse, serving at various times after the Second World War as a social hall, artisan workshop, and theatre.[1] The church reopened for worship in 2007 after restoration under Archpriest Pietro Messana.[1][3]
In 1951 the marble statue of Sant'Alberto was relocated to the piazzetta San Giuliano outside the Church of San Giuliano, where it remained for over six decades. In 2015, with financing from the production of the film At War with Love, which was partly filmed in Erice, the statue was returned to its original location in the church. Under the supervision of heritage experts, it was restored and reinstated on the high altar.[4][5]
Gallery
[edit]-
Statue in Piazzetta San Giuliano (2009), before restoration -
Statue back in the Church of Sant'Alberto (2017), after restoration
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References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f "Chiesa di Sant'Alberto dei Bianchi in Erice". Trapani Nostra. 29 November 2011. Retrieved 24 August 2025.
- ^ a b c Tusa, Matteo (2017). Erice: Planning for Life. Erice: Self-published. ISBN 9788892667327.
- ^ "Riapertura della Chiesa di San Carlo – Erice". Diocesi di Trapani. 2010. Retrieved 24 August 2025.
- ^ "ERICE: La statua di Sant'ALBERTO torna al suo "POSTO"". Trapani Nostra. 7 November 2015. Retrieved 5 September 2025.
- ^ "Ad Erice riapre la chiesa di Sant'Alberto". Telesudweb. 6 August 2021. Retrieved 5 September 2025.