Church of Maria Santissima delle Grazie in Mirabella Imbaccari

In Mirabella Imbaccari, in the province of Catania, there are numerous monuments and attractions to visit among which the Church of Maria Santissima delle Grazie.

History of the Church of Maria Santissima delle Grazie in Mirabella Imbaccari

The church of Santa Maria delle Grazie was built during the seventeenth century, in particular its construction was started in the year 1630 at the behest of the then Baron Giacinto Paternò. The latter at the time was carrying out a process of expansion of the town because at the same time he was involved in the construction of his palace and 60 houses which are currently located in via Trigona. A precious contribution to the growth of the whole territory, allowing many families to have a point of reference for living in this area which developed at a height of about 500 meters above sea level.

Unfortunately, after a few years the church had to deal with the terrible earthquake that struck this part of Sicily in 1693, for which a restructuring was necessary managed by Baron Aloisio Trigona. This was also the occasion to revolutionize the original architectural project, the church was enlarged presenting from the initial single nave a scheme with three naves thanks to the intervention of Prince Vincenzo Paternò Castello who took care of it later, in particular between 1737 and 1749.

These renovation and expansion as well as modification interventions are still visible today, as indeed it is possible to evaluate with one's own eyes by taking a look at the external facade.

Three different styles can be appreciated with pilasters that are still visible and with capitals in ionic style. Furthermore there are the bells supported by three-mullioned windows with round arches framed with the use of capitals made in one Doric style. The internal part of the church is characterized by three naves which allow for a greater distribution of spaces and to re-propose the traditional Latin cross. There are elements such as the Tuscan order columns which allow the central nave to be separated from the lateral ones from a conceptual and visual point of view. There are many finishing elements that make this building unique in its kind such as the large sacristy which can be appreciated for its rococo style and the many decorations and stuccoes reported in various parts and which recall the elements visible in Catania in the halls of Palazzo Biscari.

What to see around Mirabella Imbaccari

In the vicinity of the church of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Mirabella Imbaccari there are several destinations to consider for a tourist itinerary dedicated to culture, traditions and scenic beauty. The first option certainly is Palazzo Biscari which is always found in Mirabella Imbaccari. Built in 1635 it has literally gone through the history of the town also because it was before noble residence, later a monastery of the Congregation of the Sisters of Santa Paola Frassinetti and therefore today it is managed by the Messina Community Foundation.

A few kilometers away is the splendid city of Piazza Armerina which has, among other things, an imposing cathedral built in the classic mixed Sicilian style which includes elements in Gothic, other Baroque and others in Mannerist style. The church has a bell tower 40 meters high and built during the fifteenth century. Another religious building rather loved and appreciated in the area is the church of San Rocco which is located in Piazza Giuseppe Garibaldi. There are civil buildings of a certain importance such as Palazzo Trigona della Floresta. Its construction was carried out in the seventeenth century, but in reality the original project had been developed during the thirteenth century by the architect Orazio Torriani. Today inside there are the offices of the archaeological park of the Villa Romana del Casale which is another destination not to be missed because it also allows visitors to appreciate a museum in which there are important works that refer to the history and culture of the city ​​of Piazza Armerina and the whole territory.

How to reach Mirabella Imbaccari

In order to reach Mirabella Imbaccari coming from Ragusa, a journey of about 75 km is recommended, which takes 60 minutes with your own car auto. Most of the route involves the use of the SS514 state road and then flows into the SS683 in the direction of Caltagirone and subsequently through the SP37ii and SP37i. The route to follow coming from Catania is also similar in duration because it is 78 km in about an hour and 10 minutes of travel. In this case, most of the journey must be made along the SS417 and then merge into the SP37 and SP 37i.

© Image by David Mauro, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons