Saint Nicholas’ Church

One of the largest in Sicily, St. Nicholas’ Church has a long and troubled history. The original building dates from the late sixteenth century, but before the lava flow in 1669 and then the earthquake in1693 destroyed it completely.

It was designed by Giovanni Battista Contini, the construction was begun in 1687, suspended for two decades due to the earthquake, and then it was resumed in the eighteenth century, first by the architect Amato, then by Francesco Battaglia, and at the end by Stefano Ittar who in 1780 completed the great dome, while the facade remained incomplete until today.

The church was confiscated by the United Government in 1866 (along with the adjoining Monastery) and then it returned to the Benedictines and rededicated it, during the Second World War was badly bombed.

There’re still on-going renovation of the dome, where it’s possible to see a magnificent city’s view. At the center of the presbitery there is the main altar decorated with precious materials surrounded by the wooden choir realised by Nicolò Bagnasco.

Inside there are two extremely valuable things, one is the immense wooden and golden organ with 2916 rods, designed by Donato Del Piano, the second is the large sundial, built in 1839, it’s located in the trasept and famous for its huge size (it’s about 40 meters) and the precision of calculations. Built by the astronomers Wolfrang Sartorius baron of Waltershausen and Gottinga and by professor Cristiano Peters from Flensburgo.

Guided tour by reservation calling 095 7150535 or 340 0793135.