After the Project’s last experience with Italian parishes, you’d think I’d be completely repulsed by the subject. But no! Ethnic parishes have accounted for some of our best experiences—see Church Alley—so we can’t just give up after one very bad seed.
Thus, the Project presents South Philly’s St. Mary Magdalen de Pazzi. (Say that three times fast.) Mary Magdalen has had a rather storied history. As the first Italian national parish in the U.S., and the former home of the Delaware Valley’s largest Italian population, this particular church is the first we’ve seen that ranks as Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission landmark, complete with an official blue and gold sign.
Mary Magdalen might not be the first church I would designate as a landmark, but there’s no denying it’s strikingly pretty. We get another collection of murals a’plenty surrounded by a blue and pink color scheme, but here it’s bolstered by stunning gold trim and reddish / pink marble. The church isn’t that large, although the smart use of pillars and vaults gives it the appearance of being much bigger. The real surprise here is that this church features not one but two balconies, which the Project has never seen before. The lower one is for seating, and the top one holds the typical organ and choir loft. It’s rather remarkable.
This church has significantly improved my opinion of Italian parishes.
Size Rating: 8 out of 10
Ornamentation Rating: 8.5 out of 10
Overall Rating: 8.5 out of 10 crosses
