Historical notes
It dates back to 1570 and it was built where there was a small church dedicated to Saint Laurence. On the walls a number of putti and statues of the Virtues depict the lives of Saint Francis (on the right) and Saint Lawrence (on the left), whose martyrdom is illustrated on the opposite façade. The upper section of the walls features nudes lost in thought; some are reminiscent of Michelangelo. All the stucco sculptures are made byGiacomo Serpotta. The Virtues' lofty air of detachment and the veiled sadness of the nudes contrast strongly with the riot of rejoicing putti, depicted in a whole series of utterly fanciful poses (look for the one blowing bubbles or the couple kissing). However the figures' innocent vitality is tempered by the thefts that have sadly marked the church; in particular that in 1969 of the Nativity by Caravaggio for the altar.