Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Vittoria

La city ​​of Vittoria with its over 60 inhabitants it is among the most important in Sicily and above all in the province of Ragusa, also because logistically located near Comiso Airport. Among its many beauties to visit stands out the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie.

The Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Vittoria

La Church of the Graces in Vittoria it is a splendid example of Sicilian art with many elements that follow the characteristics of the late baroque style.
The structure is located in the most characteristic part of the city and in particular overlooks Piazza del Popolo alongside the splendid Municipal Theatre.
The Church of the Graces in Vittoria was built in 1612 or more precisely the construction was started on this date by the will of the monks of the Order of Friars Minor. In this first phase it took seven years to complete the construction of the church which, moreover, was part of a larger structure also composed of a convent also dedicated to Santa Maria delle Grazie. Unfortunately, as happened for many other monuments present in Sicily at the time, the church of the Grazie in Vittoria was also heavily damaged by the terrible earthquake of 1693, for which reconstruction interventions were necessary which largely changed the decorations and the shape of the structure. The completion of this second phase of work took place in 1754.

The artistic beauties and charm of the Chiesa delle Grazie

The church of the Graces in Vittoria, despite not being the most important in terms of surface area, is undoubtedly among the most loved and frequented by the population not only because it is consecrated to the cult of the Madonna delle Grazie but also due to the quantity of works of art which the visitor can appreciate inside.
Confirming how it is a small but characteristic jewel of late Baroque art, it was developed with a single central nave with an altar in which there is a beautiful fresco depicting the Madonna della Grazia created by artists who were part of the school of Caravaggio. There are also other paintings of great impact that are important for what they depict. In fact, they have been developed with an oval shape and bear some symbols of the Christian religion, namely Spes, Fides, Obedientia and Charitas. Along all the walls of the church, in addition to the various decorations made over the decades, it is possible to appreciate other paintings that represent further important figures and symbolic moments of the Christian religion such as the miracle of bread or the depiction of Sant'Agata who is presented in prison and in chains.

What to see in Vittoria

The city of Vittoria is among the most evocative of Sicily due to the importance and quantity of architectural and cultural beauty it has. There is no doubt that the main symbol of this city is Piazza del Popolo where, in addition to the already mentioned Church of the Madonna delle Grazie, there is also the monument dedicated to the fallen and the splendid Vittoria Colonna Municipal Theater universally recognized as a jewel of Neoclassicism which also boasts the title of monument bearer of a culture of peace, given by Unesco. Its construction dates back to 1863 when the architect Giuseppe Di Bartolo Morselli, at the request of the municipality, developed the project of a structure which was then entitled to the founder of the city who also gave it its name.
In the hypothetical itinerary to discover the beauties of the city of Vittoria, the Quiapo Church in turn located in the historic center and in particular in Piazza Ferdinando Ricca. It is a church with the classic Latin cross with three naves divided by Corinthian style columns which was in turn rebuilt after the terrible earthquake of 1693. The city of Vittoria is very rich in churches not to be missed such as the Church of Santa Rita, the one dedicated to St. Paul or al Sacred Heart and Santa Maria Goretti.

How to get to Vittoria

By car:, to reach Vittoria starting from Messina it is necessary to take the A18 for a journey of 2 hours and 30 minutes and a total of 195 km. Instead, you can leave from Messina with the train regional FS 12941 towards Syracuse and make various stops.
From Palermo, by car it is 233 km for a journey of 3 hours and 40 minutes along the A19, the SS626 and the E392. By bus there is a SAIS Autolinee service, number 17209 which arrives in Gela and then continues with a regional train up to Vittoria.
Finally, from Catania the journey is 100 km for about 1 hour and 30 minutes via the SP5 provincial road and the SS194. As far as public transport is concerned, you can get to Marina di Ragusa with the ET01 bus of Etna Trasporti and then with the regional train to Vittoria.