Often called the Casa Professa, Church of the Gesù took almost 50 years to build and involved hundreds of artists and artisans. Many of the church’s original frescoes were replaced after being damaged in World War II, but the modern restorations are still impressive.
The church can be visited on a walking tour of Palermo's markets and monuments, which includes stops at the Palermo Cathedral and the Royal Palace of Palermo—part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Set on the edge of Palermo’s historic Jewish Quarter, the church is often a stop on tours of Jewish Palermo. You can also join a hop-on-hop-off bus tour or explore the church and other highlights independently.
The Church of the Gesù is in Palermo’s historic center, a short walk from the Ballarò Street Market in Palermo’s Albergheria neighborhood and from the central train station.
The church is open daily, with a midday closure on Sunday. Palermo can be uncomfortably hot in summer, so try to visit the island in spring or fall and avoid midday summer heat if possible.
In addition to the main church, visitors can admire the sacristy lined with intricate 17th-century woodwork, proto-Christian crypt, extravagantly stuccoed Cappella del Sabato, and church museum holding art and architectural fragments originally located in the nave and chapels.