Church and Cloister of Santa Maria del Gesù in Modica
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Modica is a large Municipality of the Free Municipal Consortium of Ragusa, in south-eastern Sicily. More than 50 inhabitants live in this town and there are therefore many attractions that a tourist will find interesting by visiting it: from the churches to the monuments, up to the clubs, every place has its own story to tell you. What we tell you today is the story of Church of Santa Maria del Gesù in Modica, Church to which the beautiful is annexed Cloister, in addition to Convent.
The Church was consecrated in 1478 and after just 3 years of work, some members of the Order of Friars Minor managed to renovate the ancient fourteenth-century Franciscan building, just in time to celebrate the wedding of the daughter of the Countess De Cabrera with a cousin of the king of Spain: by financing this work, the countess allowed the total reconstruction of the magnificent building Church of Santa Maria del Gesù in Modica.
The great earthquake that devastated Sicily in 1693 and other seismic events during the seventeenth century partially destroyed the church, which subsequently required numerous renovations. Meanwhile, the Church of Santa Maria del Gesù it had become an important cultural center in the area.
In the XNUMXth century, after the unification of the country, the building stolen from the properties of the Church became the prison of Modica, while in the new millennium the entire complex, and therefore the Church, Convent and Cloister, was finally restructured and reopened to public. Today, therefore, the faithful and tourists who wish can freely enter the Church and the Cloister.
The architecture of the Church of Santa Maria del Gesù and the Cloister in Modica and what they keep
La Church of Santa Maria del Gesù in Modica it is a large building in late gothic style, as we can see by observing the imposing portal set between columns and arches which is located on the main facade and gives access to the Church. The facade is still characterized by two small openings above the arches in bas-relief and by the central rose window, while the rest of the surface is free from decorations.
In the Church you can admire the Riva Chapel, where several members of the most important noble families of the area are buried, while the Cloister stands out above all for its beautiful columns, each of which is different from the other. The Cloister runs around a paved courtyard, in the center of which is the well.
What to do at the Church of Santa Maria del Gesù in Modica and its surroundings
La Church of Santa Maria del Gesù in Modica it is a place of spiritual recollection, but it is also one of the most beautiful monuments of the city and this is why the Church and the Cloister are the destination of many tourists who visit Modica.
However, the city of chocolate is famous for its beauty and there are many addresses to bookmark for those who want to discover its historic centre: starting with a walk through the wonderful alleys of the village, you pass from Cathedral of St. George, One of the Baroque churches most fascinating of our country, al Cathedral of San Pietro Apostolo, spotting along the way the Castle of the Counts and Belvedere Pizzo.
In the centre, you will also find some Convents, like that of Cappuccini, or the Church-hermitage of San Giacomo, National Monument and custodian of splendid works of sacred art.
The Palaces of Modica are many and full of charm, like the elegant ones Polara Palace near the Duomo or the XNUMXth century Palazzo Castro Grimaldi, a real princely residence. On Corso Umberto overlooks the Palazzo degli Studi, while in Via Posterla you will find the Home, Christmas of the poet Salvatore Quasimodo.
These, however, are just some of the infinite beauties of Modica: to discover them all, go to the city in person with its atmospheres, its scents and its flavours, also taking the opportunity to stop off in the nearby Ragusa, Vizzini or Buccheri.
How it is possible to get to Modica to see the Church and Cloister of Santa Maria del Gesù
Modica, in the province of Ragusa, can be reached with the car, driving along the A18 Messina-Catania to the exit for Rosolini, which is located about 19 km from the city. Alternatively, you can reach Modica on the train, getting off at Ragusa station and continuing towards the center (only 6 km away) by bus or shuttle.
© Image by Michele.V, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
