Church and Convent of Santa Maria di Gesù

The Church and Convent of Santa Maria di Gesù, located on Via Roma in Ispica, were built around 1515 and represent one of the oldest religious sites in the city. The architectural complex combines elements of Sicilian Renaissance with late Gothic influences, visible in the pointed arch windows and the portal, alongside later Baroque additions following the 1693 earthquake restorations. The convent, historically home to the Observant Friars Minor, includes spacious cloisters, monastic cells, and areas for prayer and communal life. The church interior is richly adorned with frescoes, marble altars, and sacred statues, some attributed to renowned workshops of the time. This place maintains a strong bond with popular devotion and remains active in the spiritual and cultural life of the city, hosting religious celebrations, gatherings, and events that preserve its artistic and historical significance.