The Cathedral of Mazarin

The history of the Cathedral of Mazarin

The Cathedral of Mazzarino, better known as the Mother Church of Santa Maria della Neve, was built in the same place where the small church dedicated to Santa Maria della Neve had stood since the XNUMXth century.
Il Prince Carlo Maria Carafa in 1737 he entrusted to the architect Angelo Italy of Licata the project for the construction and modernization of the church. The work plan envisaged the creation of a large church with a single nave, with barrel vaults and featuring a very particular façade and elevation.

Although they wanted to respect the prince's wishes, it was immediately clear how difficult it was to complete this project, as the required facade was too high and massive and would have undergone erosion and crumbling very quickly.

On the prince's death work on the church was suspended and it only resumed later in the XNUMXth century. Work began again but with substantial modifications, the church would have been equipped with three naves and the very setting of the initial project would have been modified. The Cathedral of Mazarin it was completed only in 1844 due to frequent interruptions.

The architecture and artwork of the Duomo

The original facade was built according to the dictates of the Doric style, even if it is still partially incomplete today. The prospectus has a central window, placed above the roof of the church, to sufficiently illuminate the internal environment. On the prospectus two clocks should have been placed on the sides which should have rested on as many carved bas-reliefs.

Today we can only admire one of the two bas-reliefs, the one placed in the upper left part which represents creation and Adam and Eve. On the facade there are five quadrants that should have carried inscriptions and bas-reliefs that were never executed.

The final project was designed by the master Giuseppe Ferrara under the guidance of Matteo Buccola.
On the main altar it is possible to admire a large canvas representing the Our Lady of the Snows, while the chapel shows stuccos of Madonna of Lourdes by Fantauzzi. Along the left aisle is the altar dedicated to SS. Sacrament, made with inlays and golden and colored crystals, which make it a piece of great value. The chapels are both embellished with nineteenth-century chandeliers in polychrome Murano glass.

The main altar, also decorated with gilded and colored crystals, has on the side a precious stall of canons, created by the Mazzarinese artist Santi Rigano, with as many as thirty-six biblical scenes. The Cathedral of Mazarin was completed in 1872 with the placement of eighteen medallions representing the twelve apostles, the four writers of the Gospels and Joseph and Mary, mother of Jesus.

Cathedral of Mazarin: what to do nearby

In the vicinity of the Cathedral of Mazarin it is possible to visit other churches in the city, which can also be reached on foot, such as the Church of the SS. Elm Crucifix, built in the XNUMXth century, inside which a precious wooden crucifix is ​​kept. Or the Church of Maria SS. of Mazzaro, destroyed in 1693 due to a violent earthquake, and completely rebuilt in Baroque style.
On the bronze portal of the church we find the imprint of the hand of Pope John Paul II.

For those who prefer to enrich their visit with some hints of the medieval world, they will surely appreciate the Castel Vecchio, also known as U Cannuni. It owes this particular name to its cylindrical towers, which seen from afar look like the pipes of a giant organ. It dates back to the Romanesque-Byzantine period, but over time it was repeatedly affected by renovation works until the XNUMXth century.

Another medieval castle is the Castle of Garsiliato, or Castiddazzu, a few kilometers away from Mazarin. Perched on a hill, it dominates the surrounding area, characterized by crenellated walls and a legendary charm that still captures today.

Cathedral of Mazarin: how to reach your destination

Mazzarino is a municipality of the free municipal consortium of Caltanissetta and is easily accessible from any area of ​​Sicily.
From Caltanissetta take the SS626 in the direction of SP7 in Riesi; take the SP7 exit towards Barrafranca/Pietraperzia; follow the SP174, the SP178 and the SP27 in the direction of Viale della Resistenza; finally take the SS191 and exit at Mazzarino.
For those arriving from Agrigento just take the SS640; take the SS626 in the direction of SP7 in Riesi: follow the SP174, SP178 and SP27 in the direction of Viale della Resistenza; take the SS191 which leads to Mazzarino.

From Catania you have to take the SS192; continue along the SS417, SS190 and SS191 following the signs for via Giacomo Puccini in Mazzarino.
The closest airports are those of Catania and Comiso and for those who don't rent a car once they arrive in Sicily, they can also reach Mazzarino with a convenient bus service that covers the Catania-Mazzarino route.

© Liquid Nitrogen, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Hiron1986, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons