The Church of San Nicola di Bari in Cammarata

The Church of San Nicola di Bari in Cammarata is undoubtedly one of the symbols of the Sicilian capital. Here's what you need to know about a highly rated place iconic, capable of enclosing a story that has lasted for several centuries with ups and downs.

The reconstruction of the Church of San Nicola di Bari in Cammarata

The Church of San Nicola in Bari has a structure erected on the ashes of the older one, destroyed following a fire in 1624. After this event, the people devoted to the Saint put pressure together with Count Francesco Branciforti, with the aim of having it rebuilt from scratch.

About 40 years passed before we saw it rise again from its own ashes, for works of reconstruction and restoration continued until the beginning of the eighteenth century. At that juncture, the two domes and the side aisles were completed. As for the internal stuccos and the floor, the construction dates back to the nineteenth century.

The aesthetic aspect of the religious building

In recent times, the external facade, giving the church its original stone appearance. After this last work, the portion appears without particular architectural works, but with only one characteristic element, namely two false columns with architraves. The stone door it dates back to 1970, but fits into the rest of the structure adequately, without jeopardizing the beauty of the church.

The interior of the Church of San Nicola di Bari in Cammarata has instead the shape of a Latin cross, with three naves. As soon as you enter the structure, the first element that catches your eye is the size of the internal structure.
The stuccos located in the church give it a very characteristic appearance. Furthermore, their vivid colors envelop the vault and the columns well without weighing them down, also thanks to a conspicuous presence of times e arabesques. Each element acts as a valid embroidery, capable of giving delicacy and majesty to the environment.

How the altars of the Church of San Nicola look like

The altar of the Church of San Nicola di Bari in Cammarata allows you to admire a painting of considerable size, depicting the Holy Trinity, to which the church had been dedicated in the past. The painting was bought by the archpriest Rizzo and was attributed to the skilled hands of the Capuchin painter Fra Fedele Tirrito.

It is a valuable painting, which knows how to give the observer a strong sensation of a particularly vivid representation, thanks to the plasticity of the figures. The work was personalized precisely for the church of Cammarata, with the presence of the archangels Gabriele, Michele and Raffaele. Together with them, here are the saints most venerated by the villagers, such as obviously the patron Saint Nicholas, the co-patron Saint Rosalia, Saint Sebastian, Saint Peter and Saint Paul.

At the same time, the left aisle includes a small chapel with a wooden half-bust inside, which depicts St. Nicholas. The statue has a very high value and is kept in a glass case relic donated by Countess Lucia. On the side walls, here are two splendid canvases depicting the miracles of the well-known saint.

The Chapel which houses the crucifix

The main chapel of the Church of San Nicola di Bari in Cammarata houses a ancient crucifix, known with the name of the Walloons. It took its name from a local family and underneath it features a statue of Our Lady of Sorrows, which is carried out in procession every Good Friday. Furthermore, there is a canvas created by Nicolò Buttafuoco in 1595. On the left side, the sarcophagus of Blasco Branciforte appears, with paintings depicting the saints Michael, Cosma and Damiano.

How is it possible to get to Cammarata

The easiest way to get to Cammarata is to use your own car and take the SS189 which leads directly to the village, from which you can easily reach the castle on foot.
Alternatively, it is also possible to reach the town by train, since it is served by a regional connection departing from Agrigento.
Finally, for those who prefer to travel by bus, it is possible to reach Cammarata through the local lines made available by the public company ATS.