Chiesa di Sant Mamiliano (Church of Saint Mamiliano), Palermo

The Church of Saint Mamiliano, formerly known as the Church of Santa Cita, stands as a historic and architectural gem in Palermo. The origins of this sacred site trace back to the early 14th century when it was established alongside a hospital by a merchant from Lucca, dedicated to the Tuscan virgin, Santa Cita. In 1428, the complex was handed over to a breakaway group of Dominicans from the nearby San Domenico convent. This new community revitalized the existing structure, completing renovations by 1458.

The significant transformation of the church's architecture, however, occurred later in the last quarter of the 16th century under the direction of architect Giuseppe Giacalone. The redesign included a three-nave layout and extended the church's structure by incorporating the adjacent Church of the Santissimi Quaranta Martiri.

Prominent works by Antonello Gagini, a renowned Sicilian sculptor, remain within the church. These include the tribune and the arch of the large chapel, which feature scenes from the saint's life, and similar works in the Platamone Chapel, along with funerary monuments for notable individuals like Blasco Lanza and Caterina Cardona-Platamone. Additionally, important panel paintings by Vincenzo da Pavia, once adorning the altars, are now housed in the Regional Gallery of Palazzo Abatellis.

Despite suffering extensive damage during the last war, the church retains several of its original and added features. The Rosary Chapel in the transept, designed for the burials of fraternal brothers, showcases walls adorned with marble and frescoes by Gioacchino Vitagliano and Pietro dell'Aquila, depicting the Mysteries of the Rosary. The chapel of the Crucifix, granted to Ottavio and Giovanna Lanza di Trabia in 1614, remains intact with its crypt, wall decorations, mixed marble altar, and a notable 15th-century Pietà recently attributed to Giorgio da Milano. Today, the Church of Saint Mamiliano serves as the parish seat of Santa Cita and continues to be a site of historical and religious significance.