Palermo to host discussion on Sicilian religious chapels

A cultural event titled ‘Le Cappelle extra Ecclesiam, esperienza devozionale e identitaria: l’esempio di Termini Imerese’ will take place on August 13, 2026, in Palermo. Part of the ‘Giovedì culturali in Giardino’ series organized by BCsicilia, the meeting will explore small sacred sites located outside of formal church buildings.

These chapels, built by families, confraternities, or groups of believers, serve as significant landmarks in Sicilian urban and rural landscapes. They preserve sacred images, traditions, and devotional practices that reflect the social and religious history of local communities. The event will use the case study of Termini Imerese, where census and study activities have reconstructed the characteristics of numerous chapels within the city.

The discussion, presented by writer Marcella Croce and featuring BCsicilia regional president Alfonso Lo Cascio, will also clarify the distinctions between chapels and votive shrines, which are often confused but differ in structure and function.