Catania Cathedral

Last updated
Metropolitan Cathedral of Saint Agatha
Cattedrale metropolitana di Sant'Agata
Catania Cathedral msu2017-9550.jpg
Catania Cathedral
Religion
Affiliation Roman Catholic
District Archdiocese of Catania
Rite Roman
Ecclesiastical or organizational status Cathedral
Location
Location Catania, Italy
Geographic coordinates 37°30′09″N15°05′17″E / 37.50250°N 15.08806°E / 37.50250; 15.08806
Architecture
Type Church
Style Norman and Baroque
Chapel of St. Agatha CappellaSAgataCT.JPG
Chapel of St. Agatha
Detail of the 11th-century Norman transept Transetto normanno del duomo di Catania.jpg
Detail of the 11th-century Norman transept

The Metropolitan Cathedral of Saint Agatha (Italian : Cattedrale metropolitana di Sant'Agata), usually known as the Catania Cathedral (Italian: Duomo di Catania), is a Roman Catholic cathedral in Catania, Sicily, southern Italy. It was the seat of the Bishops of Catania until 1859, when the diocese was elevated to an archdiocese, and since then has been the seat of the Archbishops of Catania.

Contents

History

The cathedral has been destroyed and rebuilt several times because of earthquakes and eruptions of the nearby Mount Etna. It was originally constructed in 1078–1093, on the ruins of the ancient Roman Achillean Baths, by order of Roger I of Sicily, who had conquered the city from the Islamic emirate of Sicily. At the time it had the appearance of a fortified church (ecclesia munita).

The bell tower, designed by Carmelo Sciuto Patti Campanile del duomo di Catania (1868).JPG
The bell tower, designed by Carmelo Sciuto Patti

In 1169 it was almost entirely destroyed by an earthquake, leaving only the apse area intact. Further damage was caused by a fire in 1169, but the most catastrophic event was the 1693 earthquake, which again left it mostly in ruins. It was subsequently rebuilt in Baroque style.

Today, traces of the original Norman edifice include part of the transept, the two towers and the three semicircular apses, composed of large lava stones, most of them recovered from imperial Roman buildings.

Exterior

The current appearance of the cathedral dates from the work in 1711 of Gian Battista Vaccarini, who designed a new Baroque façade after the 1693 earthquake. It has three levels with Corinthian columns in granite, perhaps taken from the Roman Theatre of the city. All the orders are decorated with marble statues of Saint Agatha over the gate, Saint Euplius on the right and Saint Birillus on the left. The main door, in wood, has 32 sculpted plaques with episodes of the life and martyrdom of Saint Agatha, papal coats of arms and symbols of Christianity.

The dome dates from 1802. The bell tower was originally erected in 1387, with a height of some 70 meters. In 1662 a clock was added, the structure reaching 90 meters. After the destruction of 1693 it was rebuilt, with the addition of a 7.5 t bell, the third largest in Italy after those in St. Peter's Basilica and in Milan Cathedral.

The parvise is accessed through a marble façade culminating in a wrought iron .... decorated with 10 bronze statues of saints. The parvise is separated from the cathedral square by a balustrade in white stone, featuring five large statues of saints in Carrara marble.

Interior

The cathedral has a Latin cross groundplan, with a nave and two aisles. In the southern aisle are the baptistery and, at the first altar, a canvas of Saint Febronia of Nisibis by Borremans facing, on a pilaster, the tomb of the composer Vincenzo Bellini. Also on a pilaster between this aisle and the nave is the Baroque monument of Bishop Pietro Galletti. Also notable is the Chapel of St. Agatha.

The apse dates back to the original 12th-century construction: it features a medieval mullioned window and a late-16th-century choir by the Neapolitan artist Scipione di Guido. At the end of the north transept is the Chapel of the Holy Crucifix, by Domenico Mazzola (1577). It houses the tombs of members of the Aragonese branch of Sicily, including Kings Frederick III and Louis, John of Randazzo, and Constance.

The northern aisle has several 17th-century paintings of saints, including one by Guglielmo Borremans.

Sources

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Monreale Cathedral</span> Cathedral in Monreale, Palermo, Sicily, southern Italy

Monreale Cathedral is a Catholic church in Monreale, Metropolitan City of Palermo, Sicily. One of the greatest existent examples of Norman architecture, it was begun in 1174 by William II of Sicily. In 1182 the church, dedicated to the Nativity of the Virgin Mary, was, by a bull of Pope Lucius III, elevated to the rank of a metropolitan cathedral as the seat of the diocese of Monreale, which was elevated to the Archdiocese of Monreale in 1183. Since 2015 it has been part of the Arab-Norman Palermo and the Cathedral Churches of Cefalù and Monreale UNESCO World Heritage Site.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Parma Cathedral</span> its lovely!

Parma Cathedral is a Roman Catholic cathedral in Parma, Emilia-Romagna (Italy), dedicated to the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It is the episcopal seat of the Diocese of Parma. It is an important Italian Romanesque cathedral: the dome, in particular, is decorated by a highly influential illusionistic fresco by Renaissance painter Antonio da Correggio.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mantua Cathedral</span> Church in Italy

Mantua Cathedral in Mantua, Lombardy, northern Italy, is a Roman Catholic cathedral dedicated to Saint Peter. It is the seat of the Bishop of Mantua.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Padua Cathedral</span> Cathedral in Padua, Italy

Padua Cathedral, or Basilica Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Assumption, is a Catholic church and minor basilica located on the east end of Piazza Duomo, adjacent to the bishop's palace in Padua, Veneto, Italy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Duomo of Monza</span> Religious building in Monza, Italy

The Duomo of Monza, often known in English as Monza Cathedral, is the main religious building of Monza, Italy. Unlike most duomi, it is not in fact a cathedral, as Monza has always been part of the Diocese of Milan, but is in the charge of an archpriest who has the right to certain episcopal vestments including the mitre and the ring. The church is also known as the Basilica of San Giovanni Battista from its dedication to John the Baptist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">San Paolo a Ripa d'Arno</span>

San Paolo a Ripa d'Arno is a Roman Catholic church in Pisa, region of Tuscany, Italy. It is a pre-eminent example of Tuscan Romanesque church architecture. The church is also locally known as Duomo vecchio.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pistoia Cathedral</span> Roman Catholic cathedral in Pistoia, Tuscany, Italy

Pistoia Cathedral, or Cathedral of Saint Zeno is the main religious building of Pistoia, Tuscany, central Italy, located in the Piazza del Duomo in the centre of the city. It is the seat of the Bishop of Pistoia and is dedicated to Saint Zeno of Verona.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pavia Cathedral</span> Church in Pavia, Italy

Pavia Cathedral is a church in Pavia, Italy, the largest in the city and seat of the Diocese of Pavia. The construction was begun in the 15th century on the site of two pre-existing Romanesque, "twin" cathedrals. The cathedral houses the remains of St. Sirus, first Bishop of Pavia, and a thorn purported to be from the Crown of Thorns worn by Christ. The marble facing of the exterior was never completed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Basilica della Collegiata</span> Church in Italy

The Ancient Royal and Eminent Basilica Collegiate of Our Lady of the Alms, better known as Basilica della Colleggiata, is a church in Catania, Sicily, southern Italy. Finished in 1794, it is an example of Sicilian Baroque.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">San Benedetto, Catania</span>

San Benedetto is a late-Baroque architecture, Roman Catholic church and former Benedictine monastery in the city Catania, Sicily, southern Italy. The church facade faces Via Crociferi, parallels across via San Benedetto the former-Jesuit church of San Francesco Borgia, and both are about a block south along Crociferi from the church and convent of San Giuliano. Entrance to church and monastery appear to be through Piazza Asmundo #9 near the apse of the church.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Terni Cathedral</span>

Terni Cathedral is a Roman Catholic cathedral in Terni, Umbria, Italy, and the seat of the bishop of Terni-Narni-Amelia. It is dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Basilica of St. Sebastian, Barcellona Pozzo di Gotto</span> Church in Sicily, Italy

The Basilica of St. Sebastian is a church in Barcellona Pozzo di Gotto, Sicily, Italy, raised to the status of a minor basilica in 1991.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Avellino Cathedral</span>

Avellino Cathedral is a Roman Catholic cathedral dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary and Saint Modestinus in Avellino, Campania, Italy. It is the seat of the bishops of Avellino.

Piazza del Duomo is the main city square in Catania, Italy, flanked by both the centers of civic and religious power.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cathedral of Syracuse</span> UNESCO World Heritage Site

The Cathedral of Syracuse, formally the Cattedrale metropolitana della Natività di Maria Santissima, is an ancient Catholic church in Syracuse, Sicily, the seat of the Catholic Archdiocese of Siracusa. Its structure is originally a Greek doric temple, and for this reason it is included in a UNESCO World Heritage Site designated in 2005.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">San Placido, Catania</span>

San Placido is a Roman Catholic church and former-Benedictine monastery located on the piazza of the same name in Catania, Sicily, southern Italy. The complex, two blocks east of the Catania Cathedral, spans a polygonal block encompassed by the Via Vittorio Emanuele II on the north, the via Landolina to the east, the via Museo Biscari on a south diagonal, and to the west the piazza San Placido and Via Porticello. Part of the convent is occupied by the Palazzo della Cultura, used for cultural activities and exhibitions. The Monastero di San Placido also serves presently as the Archivio di Stato di Catania.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sant'Agata al Carcere, Catania</span>

Santa Agata al Carcere, sometimes called Santo Carcere or the Carcere church is a Roman Catholic church located on Piazza Santo Carcere #7, in the city of Catania, Sicily, southern Italy. It is one of three nearly adjacent churches dedicated in honor of St Agatha of Sicily in this neighborhood, the other two being Sant'Agata alla Fornace and Sant'Agata la Vetere.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">San Francesco Borgia, Catania</span>

San Francesco Borgia is a Roman Catholic church located on Via Crociferi #7, adjacent to the former Collegio Gesuita, and parallel to San Benedetto, and about a block south on Crociferi of the church and convent of San Giuliano, in the city of Catania, region of Sicily, southern Italy. The church is mainly used for exhibits, but still holds much of the original Jesuit artwork.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Badia di Sant'Agata</span>

Badia di Sant'Agata or Abbey of St Agatha refers to an 18th-century Roman Catholic church and attached female convent located on Via Vittorio Emanuele #182 in the center of Catania, region of Sicily, Southern Italy. The Baroque style church facade is across the street from the left transept of the Cathedral of Catania.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">San Michele Arcangelo ai Minoriti, Catania</span> Church in the city center of Catania

San Michele Arcangelo ai Minoriti is a Roman Catholic parish church and attached monastery in the city center of Catania, region of Sicily, Italy. The former monastery, to the left of the facade, now houses shops on the ground-floor, and above are the offices of the Provincial government and the Prefettura or Prefecture.