Church of San Giuseppe in Catenanuova

The History of the Church of San Giuseppe in Catenanuova

The small sacred building of the Church of San Giuseppe in Catenanuova, in the Free Municipal Consortium of Enna, preserves an ancient history rich in both artistic and religious importance. Located in Piazza Aldo Moro, the Church has in fact been a very important center for the religious life of the town since 1738.
The small size of the church, which today performs such an important function, derives from the origins of this building: in the XNUMXth century, it was the family church of an important Sicilian family, which dominated the fief of Meliventre. Prince Antonino Giuseppe Riggio he had the church built after the earthquake of 1693, and the place of Catholic worship was dedicated to the Holy Family.
In the following century, the feud was dismembered and the town of Catenanuova arose around the church, of which the Church of San Giuseppe became a parish in 1738.
From its foundation up to the present day, the church has often been the subject of extensions and renovations, until it has reached its current appearance; inside, there are numerous works of art visible to the faithful and tourists who come to Catenanuova.

The architecture of the church of San Giuseppe in Catenanuova and the works of art that the church contains

The Church of San Giuseppe in Catenanuova has three naves, of which the original one is the central one: the other two were added over the years, first, in 1757, by Prince Andrea Giuseppe Riggio, who ordered the expansion to fulfill the wish of his mother, the Baroness Anna Maria Statella and later the last nave was added due to the increase in the local population around 1850, as there was a need for more space in the church to accommodate all the faithful.
At the same time as the first extension, in 1757, it was also built the Altar of the Blessed Sacrament and a few decades later, the exterior of the church was completed with the addition of the bell tower, equipped with a bell weighing 300 kg. In 1862 the population then donated another bell to the church, which reached twice the weight of the first.
Currently, the church is therefore in total twice the size of the original church.
On the sides of the Church, the Parish Hall, where the small village cemetery and the rectory once stood, on the other side.
Around the base of the bell tower, the parish offices were finally built and this is how, over the centuries, the small family church took on its present form.
The external facade of the church has maintained a simple appearance, while the interior appears richer and more decorated: frescoes, paintings and statues make the church bright and welcoming for the faithful, who gather in prayer; here tourists will be able to admire a masterpiece of Baroque painting, such as the Holy Family, in addition to the other canvases depicting St. Joseph, the Our Lady of the Rosary, Our Lady of Grace and San Prospero Martyr, the Patron of the city of Enna.

What to do in the Church of San Giuseppe in Catenanuova and in the surrounding area

The entire community of the faithful meets in the Church of San Giuseppe in Catenanuova and here tourists can also go in recollection, to pray or attend mass.
After the services, it is possible to visit the church and admire the works of art it houses, before dedicating some time to visiting the town: here there are other beautiful religious buildings of Catholic worship, such as the Church of Maria Santissima Immaculate or Sanctuary of Maria Santissima del Rosario di Monte Scalpello (which can only be visited on the first Sunday of May and October). Other attractions of notable tourist interest are the Fondaco Cuba, i.e. an old inn, the water tank and the Monument to the Fallen, which can be visited during a walk in the centre.
even the San Prospero Park it is an attraction not to be missed if you are in Catenanuova and its surroundings: 4 hectares of pristine greenery, where you can also bring children, to spend a pleasant day in the open air and also organize a barbecue in the special equipped areas .
Speaking of food, in Catenanuova there are some really delicious restaurants, to enjoy pizza, typical dishes and desserts of the Sicilian culinary tradition.

How to get to the Church of San Giuseppe in Catenanuova

Catenanuova is located in the Free Municipal Consortium of Enna, in Sicily, and is about 48 km from the city. The Church of San Giuseppe a Catenanuova stands in Piazza Aldo Moro, in the center of the town.
Reaching Catenanuova is easy from all the main cities of the island.
Those traveling by car can take the A19 Palermo-Catania motorway and exit directly at Catenanuova, or from the motorway junction, take the Catania-Misterbianco or Catania San Giorgio exits, approximately 29 km away.
Those who prefer to travel by train can reach Catenanuova by getting off at Catania Central Station (about 36 km from the centre) or Catania Europa (37 km). At the station, the public bus service or private shuttles are available, which accompany travelers up to Catenanuova.

© Image by Nicolò Fiorenza, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.