
Walking around Kalsa neighbourhood, it is possible to come across XVI century's Oratorios. The Oratorio of Saint Lawrence is one of the most important ones, built by the fellowship of Saint Francis (San Francesco). The oratorio has a nave and a rectangular internal chapel and features gorgeous decorative stuccos from 1699 by Giacomo Serpotta. There are statues representing the seven virtues and eight wall reliefs.
The famous painter Caravaggio (also known as Michelangelo Merisi from Caravaggio) painted an altar piece for the oratory representing the Nativity with Saints Francis and Lawrence, but it was stolen in 1969. It has currently been replaced by a reproduction, but every Christmas a contemporary artist is called to create an own interpretation of this christian theme.
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