Mother Church of Castronovo di Sicilia

The archaic settlement formed by some houses from the troglodyte era located in the Grotte district, right next to the banks of the Platani river, wanted by the Sican people, was the founding nucleus of the ancient Krastusvogliono originated during the XNUMXth century BC. This town, which saw a epic battle between Imeresi and Agrigento, both fighting to possess this territory.

Among the various artistic beauties present in today's town we find the Mother Church of Castronovo di Sicilia.

The History of the Mother Church of Castronovo di Sicilia

The Mother Church of Castronovo di Sicilia was built during the 1091th century and exactly in XNUMX and, originally, it was a military garrison which subsequently gave way to the religious building dedicated to Holy Trinity. What initially were two fortress towers commissioned by King Roger and subsequently enlarged by Manfredi Chiaramonte, they were transformed into a bell tower and an apse. The Castronovo Mother Church of Sicily was consecrated at the beginning of the XNUMXth century.

Architecture and any works of art present in the Mother Church of Castronovo di Sicilia

With a nave about fifty meters long and ten meters wide and about fifteen meters high, the Church is a sort of mausoleum with a Latin cross plan where there are some chapels on the sides. Testimonies of the populations that dominated the town are visible in the form of inscriptions that can still be read on some tombstones such as the one found at the base of the Bell tower bearing the date 1098.

History says that the first parish priest, a certain Him Kinmtatachi, was originally an Arab priest who later converted.

Very beautiful are the altars in yellow Kassar marble which were paired with other colored marbles which were inlaid by some local artists as well as the notable stucco work done by Antonio Messina, a craftsman from Castronova. Dating back to the seventeenth century is the beautiful confessional pulpit and the choir for the collegiate church made of walnut wood and sculpted by the carver Antonino Giordano. Also noteworthy is the eighteenth-century pipe organ created by Della Valle.

Also precious is the Holy Crucifix which dominates the main altar and which dates back to the early XNUMXth century.

There are some niches inside the Presbytery in which some statues are placed such as the wooden one of S. Antonio Abate, the sixteenth-century one of San Simeone Apostolo by Lo Cascio, the seventeenth-century terracotta one depicting S. Francesco di Paola and that of the Madonna della Candelora .

The beauties preserved inside the Mother Church of Castronovo di Sicilia continue with the valuable wooden chapel of the Addolorata, with the eighteenth-century altar of San Vitale, with a fifteenth-century wooden crucifix positioned at the end of the nave and with other precious statues such as that of San Pietro by Gagini, that of San Giovanni Aposto by Lo Cascia and that of San Calogero by Quattrocchi.

What is possible to do in the surroundings of the Mother Church of Castronovo di Sicilia

In addition to visiting other churches present in the city and worthy of interest, it is suggested to reach the Colle di San Vitale where the remains of a ancient windmill of Arab origin and of two castles. On the top of this hill there is also the Church of the Madonna dell'Udienza of Greek-Byzantine origin which from the XNUMXth century and for a long time the old Matrix. Through the configuration of its Greek cross plan, it is believed that this may be the oldest church in the town of Castronovo and the various artistic works once present were moved to the Mother Church of the Holy Trinity. Of the old structure it is possible to see the apse, the baptismal font and the choir with three altars.

Also visit Convent of the Capuchins dating back to 1533 which testifies to the first presence of this monastic order in Sicily. The Convent dates back to the beginning of the seventeenth century and was built in the Rakalbiat district thanks to a donation by Girolamo Bottoneri. Currently the religious complex has been transformed into a Franciscan Oasis equipped with a children's playground and a theater space. The annex Church dedicated to the Celestial Mother S. Maria la Bagnara it has a single nave with a straight apse without a transept. To admire a seventeenth-century wooden tabernacle and a large cross.

The sources present in Castronovo are also worth a visit, such as the Fonte Regio dating back to the second half of the sixteenth century and the Fonte Rabato.

How is it possible to get to Castronovo di Sicilia

By car:, from Palermo towards Agrigento: proceed on State Road 189, take the third crossroads for Castronovo di Sicilia, continue for another 700 meters following the signs.