Church of San Cataldo in Erice

Erice, in Free Municipal Consortium of Trapani, is a town populated by about 26 people, overlooking theArchipelago of the Egadi Islands from a height of 750 mt asl and this centre, which enjoys an enviable position, is also rich in ancient buildings: the Church of San Cataldo in Erice it is one of the most important attractions in the country and its history begins in the fourteenth century.

History of the Church of San Cataldo in Erice

The Church of San Cataldo in Erice, in addition to being very old, was also the parish of the town for a few years, until 1312, until the construction of the new matrix. The church, which has always been a meeting place for the inhabitants of Erice, is consecrated to San Cataldo, a saint particularly venerated by the Normans. San Cataldo, of Irish origins, lived in the XNUMXth century.

The structure of the Church has not always been as we see it today, in fact before the fifteenth century the main entrance was what today appears to be only a side entrance. Furthermore, in the XNUMXth century, the building originally with three naves was restructured into a single large room. The sacred furnishings visible in the Church are ancient, but many of these date back to no earlier than the XNUMXth century. The works of art inside are mostly sacred paintings from the XNUMXth and XNUMXth centuries.

The architecture of the Church of San Cataldo in Erice and the works it houses

In spite of the main facade, and the exterior of the Church in general, the one dedicated to San Cataldo in Erice is a sacred building rich in works of art and decorations.

The exterior is simple and almost rough, devoid of the decorations and splendor that characterize the most famous Sicilian Baroque churches, but upon entering, the show changes completely: the interior di baroque era they are extremely well-kept, rich in stuccos and bright; there are wooden sacred furnishings and precious chandeliers, while on the walls of the chapels there are wonderful and very thick frescoes, which give color to an otherwise white environment.

Among the main works of art that can be admired in the Church of San Cataldo in Erice, we point out above all the "Mass of San Carlo Borromeo" by Pietro d'Andrea Poma and the statues of the holy family, all made in the eighteenth century; moreover, in the Church there are works by Carrera and the Syracusan, paintings that reproduce the Patron Saint and a wall plaque in memory of the parish priest Pagoto, who in the last century dedicated his life to the Church of Erice.

What you can do at the Church of San Cataldo in Erice and in the surrounding area

If you love visiting churches and old towns, the spectacular view that only mountain villages can offer (but with the addition of a wonderful blue background) and good food, Erice is the perfect destination for your holidays.

Un tour to discover Erice, includes all the most beautiful churches in the country, so in addition to the Church of San Cataldo, we advise you not to miss the Royal Mother Church, marvelous Cathedral of the Assumption, built in the fourteenth century on the site where one of the first Christian temples had already been erected a thousand years earlier. Other milestones are those at the Church of San Giuliano , Church of Sant'Antonio Abate, both parish churches of Erice. In particular, the Church of San Giuliano, built in 1070, is one of the oldest and most evocative of the village, with the interior in stone bricks and the wooden ceiling.

Walking through the streets of Erice, you reach San Martin square, where the church of the same name stands and where you can admire frescoes and paintings from the Middle Ages; then there are several convents in the village, such as that of San Francesco d'Assisi.

From Erice, the view extends to theisland of Favignana, while the palate can meet in the village the most delicious flavors of busiate with Trapani pesto, fish couscous and caponata.

Recommended activities for a tour in Erice and the Province of Trapani

How is it possible to get to Erice

The Church of San Cataldo in the town of Erice can be reached from viale Nunzio Nasi. In the village, you arrive with the driving feel, taking the A29 Alcamo-Trapani and taking the exits for Trapani (8 km), Dattilo (9 km) or Marsala (10 km); alternatively, you can also get to Erice on the train, getting off at Trapani Station, 6 km from the village, continuing the journey to the center by bus or shuttle.