Church of Santa Maria Maggiore in Calascibetta
Book your tour in Sicily
Choose from the best experiences to do in Catania, Palermo, Messina, Trapani, Agrigento and many other Sicilian cities.
La Church of Santa Maria Maggiore in Calascibetta è Royal Palatine Chapel since 1342 and most importantly it is the second in all of Sicily. In Calascibetta, in the Free Municipal Consortium of Enna, the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore is the most important sacred building, erected in 1340 at the behest of King Peter II of Aragon.
With its long history, the Church survived the terrible earthquake of 1693, which struck the Val di Noto, destroying many buildings and entire villages; the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore in Calascibetta did not emerge entirely unscathed, in fact following the earthquake, it was necessary to rebuild the main facade.
At the end of the 1987th century, the Church was enlarged with the creation of three apses and the dome, which is visible only from the inside. Finally, in XNUMX, the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore was restructured, so that the Gothic origins of this very ancient and important structure came to light.
The architecture of the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore in Calascibetta and the works it houses
The main façade of the Church, rebuilt after the earthquake in the Val di Noto, is divided into two orders, with a single access door, decorated with bas-reliefs and placed in the center of the façade, which can be reached via a staircase.
The portal is framed and included between two lateral brick pilasters, surmounted by a triangular trabeation; the small windows on the ground floor are also framed. In the upper order we find a single central window, the extension of the pilasters and helicoidal decorations, made with the same bricks as the pilasters.
At the top of the building is the tripartite belfry, from whose single lancet windows you can see the large bronze bells of the Church.
Inside, the building is divided into three naves by ten columns. One of the main attractions is undoubtedly the Marble ciborium, created in the mid-sixteenth century by Gagini's pupils, but there are other works of art such as the paintings, kept in the chapels.
From a chromatic point of view, the Church appears harmonious, with the dominant tones of brown, beige and white, especially following the most recent renovation of the building, which has eliminated the Baroque stuccos.
What you can do at the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore in Calascibetta and in the surrounding area
At the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore in Calascibetta you can admire many sacred works of art, but also gather in prayer with the local faithful. After visiting the Church, you can also discover the nearby attractions, such as the Church of Maria SS. of Itria, but in the village there are numerous sacred buildings; discover the Church of St. Joseph and visit the Chapel of the SS. Crucified, while if you pass near the Church of San Francesco d'Assisi, don't forget to also admire the Convent of the Capuchins.
Calascibetta, however, also has other places in store for you to discover, such as the Norman Tower, St. John the Baptist Orthodox Parish and Jewish Quarter, built in the mid-XNUMXth century, in which the purification tank can be observed.
If you move away from the center a little, you can reach the amazing Byzantine village of Contrada Canalotto, where you can explore the mysterious openings carved into the rock, or the Necropolis of Realmese, of prehistoric origin, discovered only in the fifties.
From Calascibetta it is easy to reach the beautiful Enna, Leonforte and Catania, but those who love nature can head towards the great parks of Sicily, for wonderful excursions in the countryside. Back in Calascibetta, there is plenty of time to discover the best restaurants in the town, where you can taste the most typical dishes, from black pork sausage to almond paste desserts.
How is it possible to get to the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore in Calascibetta
Calascibetta, in the Free Municipal Consortium of Enna, can be reached by car or train.
Who arrives by car, can take the A19 Palermo-Catania, up to the exit for Enna, which is located just 2,8 km from the town; who comes on the train, can instead get off at Caltanissetta Central Station, which is about 21 km from the village and continue the journey by bus or shuttle.
