Church of the Most Holy Crucifix

The Carmelites, who most likely reached Polizzi in the first half of the 16th century, initially settled in premises next to the small church of San Nicolella in the San Pancrazio quarter and, in 1549, in the convent of San Giuliano, which on that occasion took the name of Santa Maria del Carmelo. The convent, with its adjoining church, had in fact belonged to the Dominican Fathers. It was closed in 1653 under the reform willed by Innocent X, then reopened in 1665 and entrusted to the Carmelites of Monte Santo, who held it until 1866, the year religious orders were suppressed, after which only the church remained in use.

Nothing survives of the ancient structure: the convent, entirely rebuilt, is now home to the Technical Institute for Surveyors. The church, on the other hand, preserves works of art of considerable interest, including, on the right, the canvas of the Madonna del Carmine of 1541 painted by the Spanish artist Johannes Matta, particularly active in Polizzi. In the Chapel of the Crucifix stands the venerated 17th-century wooden Crucifix, recently restored, attributed to the Palermo sculptor Francesco Gallusca. The church of the Carmine is the seat of the Deputation of the Crucifix which, since the last two decades of the 17th century, has organised the feast held in its honour.

Equally notable is the wooden choir of the early decades of the 18th century, recently restored, with walnut stalls decorated with plant motifs and inlaid panels on the backs depicting Christological symbols and symbols of Christian mysticism and of the Carmelite order. Also of interest are the majolica tiles, probably part of the original complete floor, made in Collesano in the early 18th century, which unfortunately survive only in the choir and behind the high altar.