The Basilica della Collegiata is one of the finest examples of Sicilian Baroque architecture, a triumph of ornament and architectural formalism to be found in the historical centre of Catania, only a few minutes’ walk from the Piazza del Duomo.
History of the church
Today, the church stands where there was once a small shrine dedicated to the Madonna dell'Elemosina. Over time, the cult of the Virgin Mary made the place so important that in the 14th century even the kings of Aragon frequented it. In the 15th century the present church became a collegiate church, hence the current name of this place of worship, ‘Collegiata’. Following the devastating earthquake that hit Catania in 1693, the church was rebuilt in the 18th century according to the plans drawn by the architect, Angelo Italia. The design of the façade was entrusted to the architects, Stefano Ittar and Antonio Amato, who gave the church an urban front that encompasses the main street of Catania, Via Etnea.
A welcoming facade
Walking along the Via Etna, your eye may often pause on the rich decorations of noble baroque palaces. Walking down this long road that goes through the historic centre of the city and leads to the Piazza del Duomo, the space suddenly expands and an attractive staircase invites you to enter; even the most distracted visitor cannot help but notice it! The facade of the church protrudes into the street and draws the visitor inwards with an almost welcoming gesture, due to the emphasised curvature of the cornice. Nothing is straight in the Basilica della Collegiata. Angels and saints give a solemn appeal to the white columns of the facade and their six Corinthian pillars open their acanthus leaves to the harmonic repetition of corbels and mouldings. A constructed harmony of empty and full makes the building look like a soft curtain whose drapes create an atmosphere steeped in surprise.
The frescoes of the interior
The decorative jubilation of the Basilica della Collegiata filters from the outside to the inside without ever leaving the visitor disappointed. The space is divided into three naves, but the central nave is the only one that circles both believers and visitors with its walls towards the altar. There is a large wooden space for the choir and a beautiful golden organ. The charm of the nave is enriched by splendid frescos by Italian painter Giuseppe Sciuti, which were added to the vaults and dome made at the end of 19th century. The frescoes, which are to be read from the entrance to the altar, do not weigh on the head of the visitor, they rather have the depth of a stage in which the characters perform unrestrained actions. Giuseppe Sciuti was particularly known in the nineteenth century as a theatrical decorator and for having painted the curtains of the Bellini Theatre in Catania and the Massimo Theatre in Palermo.
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The pomp of the Baroque
If you have a passion for excesses, spectacle, and decorative richness and you are a lover of Baroque architecture, the Basilica della Collegiata will fill your eyes with such wonder. Forget any minimalism, splendour is the rule!
The Basilica della Collegiata is open everyday from 9am-12 pm and 5-8 pm. It is free to enter.
History
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