Church of the Hermitage Sant'Anna in Aci Catena

On the side of a hill and surrounded by a series of towns, in the district of San Filippo in Aci Catena, is the beautiful Hermitage of Sant'Anna.

The complex, which includes both the church and the convent, is set in a splendid landscape dominated by greenery and which gently slopes down to the sea ​​of ​​Capo Mulini. The natural skyline offers, in addition to the Aci, the Calabrian hills on one side and Etna on the other.

History of the Church of the Hermitage Sant'Anna in Aci Catena

The construction of the Hermitage is due to fra Rosario Campione of Acireale, who was its founder. Fra Rosario, from an early age, decided to embrace the monastic life so much so that at the age of only 27, he retired to contemplate in Acireale at the small church of Loreto.
Subsequently he left on various pilgrimages to discover monasteries and convents until Father Mariano Patanè, his superior, ordered him to reach the church of Sant'Anna in the district of Aci San Filippo also to respond to the young friar's desire for solitude and contemplation.

The small church had been abandoned for some time so much that the vegetation as well as covering the external walls, had also penetrated inside after it had served an elderly monk who was blind.

Thanks to a donation received from the cantor of the Collegiate Church of Aci San Filippo, Fra Rosario managed to buy a small piece of land in Aci Trezza starting to build the Hermitage of Sant'Anna from a large cistern that was indispensable for the community that was gradually settling in the territory.

Amazing to know that all the works were carried out without any architectural project and that only at a certain point, Fra Rosario was joined by two expert mason monks who helped him finish the job started in 1751.

It was two other friars, friar Gioacchino and friar Giovanni Battista who gave birth to an agricultural community.

Originally, the complex consisted of a small church with two rooms and a cistern for collecting water. The subsequent expansion saw the implementation of a chapel and some cells as well as the internal flooring of the church made up of decorated ceramics from Caltagirone. Later, other spaces were built including a library and some laboratories.

Architecture and any works of art present inside the Church of the Hermitage Sant'Anna in Aci Catena

The church of the Hermitage of Sant'Anna, has inside a wonderful high altar which is characterized by polychrome marbles and splendid chiseled copper work and was built by two expert artisan friars, brother Raffaele and brother Vincenzo. They too have provided for the creation of the large bell and the small ones, as well as making enamelled clay vases and the flooring.

Unfortunately these beauties are little frequented so as to consider the Hermitage almost abandoned to itself, despite the fact that together with the nearby Sanctuary of Valverde, would represent a very interesting tourist destination since the cultural and artistic aspect of the works conserved inside it can also be added to the spirituality of the place, such as the canvases depicting the Madonna and Child with Saint Anne or like the beautiful cloister and the Mediterranean garden.

Nowadays, after the disappearance of the last hermit friar, the hermitage is inhabited by a small congregation of Carmelite nuns.

Despite everything, the Hermitage retains a prerogative of uniqueness as it is the only church in which, every year on the 26th of July, a special anniversary is celebrated for the feast of Sant'Anna when a special blessing is given to all pregnant women. In fact, for the whole day the little church sees the alternation of mothers who ask Sant'Anna for protection for their child still in her womb.
This is because the liturgy narrates that Anna was married to Gioacchino, becoming a mother only at a very late age. The two, very devoted, thus saw their dream come true of expecting a child who was a girl and whom they called Mary, who would become the mother of Jesus.

There are many couples who consecrate their union in this country church and who hope to have a child soon.

How can you get to your destination

On the train
From Catania: Catania-Acireale railway line. Once in Aci Catena follow the signs for 1,7 km.
From Palermo: Palermo-Catania, Catania-Acireale sections. Once in Aci Catena, follow the signs for 1,7 km.
From Messina: Messina-Acireale section. Once in Aci Catena, follow the signs for 1,7 km.

In Car
From Catania, take the SS 114 or the A18 motorway (Acireale exit). Once in Aci Catena, follow the signs for 1,7 km.
From Messina take the A18 motorway (exit Acireale). Once in Aci Catena, follow the signs for 1,7 km.
From Palermo take the A19 highway and continue on the A18. Once in Aci Catena, follow the signs for 1,7 km.

By plane
Catania Fontanarossa Airport.