Church of San Sebastiano Martire in Maniace

The history of the Church of San Sebastiano Martire in Maniace

In Maniace, in Sicily in the Metropolitan City of Catania, the parish of the country is the Church of San Sebastiano Martire. Located in the center of Maniace, the cult building is an example of modern religious architecture created by Sicilian workers, having in fact been completed just under thirty years ago, in 1994.

The history of this Church, however, has its origins in the second half of the XNUMXth century: its construction began, in fact, in June 1962, when the rectory was built. Subsequently, between 1989 and 1994 the construction of the entire Church was completed, inaugurated on August 7, 1994 by theArchbishop Monsignor Luigi Bommarito and part of the Diocese of Catania.

The parish of Maniace is consecrated to San Sebastiano Martire, Patron of the town commemorated by the religious community in the month of January with a Feast and long thanksgiving celebrations for the Saint who protected Maniace from the floods of 1682.

Before the Church of San Sebastiano Martire, today a meeting point for the whole community, was built, the town had to wait for the construction of bridges, roads and connecting routes to allow all the faithful to gather in prayer in their own parish. Today the Church, well connected and welcoming to its faithful, is one of the most modern places of worship in the country.

The architecture of the Church of San Sebastiano Martire in Maniace and the works it houses

The Parish of San Sebastiano Martire in Maniace appears modern and welcoming at the same time, like a beautiful harmonious structure surrounded by a large courtyard. The project, developed by the Palermo architect Conrad Roman, is inspired by the prow of ships, with the bell tower that seems to bring to mind the rudder of a boat.

Outside, the reinforced concrete and sandstone brick structure stands out, lightened by an upward trend that culminates in the cross above the bell tower. The structure is characterized by a great symmetry, which is found in the facade at the top of the staircase and in the portals; the Church has many large windows that allow light to pass undisturbed inside.

Here you can admire the stained glass windows, embellished by artistic decorations, while on the white walls strong pillars rest, creating closed spaces along the walls. Behind the presbytery, between the pillars, there are decorative panels that cover the entire wall, characterized by neo-Byzantine style paintings.

Inside the Church, a raised floor was built above the floor, above which the stone altar is placed. Always in stone is the Baptismal font, which shows the shape of a prism.

Among the works that can be admired in the church, in addition to the paintings in the Presbytery, there are the iron portals decorated by the artist Antonio Paglia.

What to do in the Church of San Sebastiano Martire in Maniace

The Parish of San Sebastiano Martire in Maniace is the church dedicated to the Patron Saint, of which the local faithful are proud and to which they are very attached. At the parish, tourists who wish can participate in mass, meeting the local community and discovering the history of this modern church.

After the service, you can stay in the church for a visit to the whole structure, which is an example of turn of the century religious architecture.

Once in Maniace, however, you can also admire other architectural beauties, both religious and civil. There Church of Santa Maria, Maniace Abbey, for example, is a beautiful XNUMXth century building in perfect Romanesque style. The Castle of Maniace, with its stone walls covered by vines from the courtyard, is a palace that can also be visited to discover the Admiral's memorabilia.

Just 17 km further south of Maniace, there is Bronte: the city famous for its delicious pistachios, called green gold, is also linked to historical events of the Risorgimento, as well as to the world of literature: from the sisters Bronte to Giovanni Verga, these lands are all to be explored, perhaps after reading some of the most famous books in our local literary history.

Among the natural beauties of the Sicilian hinterland, about 11 km further north of Maniace, there is the Nebrodi Park, open to nature-loving visitors, where you can walk in the greenery and go birdwatching.

Among the tastiest local products in the area, we highlight the excellent Nebrodi cheeses and, of course, the Sicilian cannolo stuffed with delicious fresh ricotta, for a culinary stop during your trip to Sicily.

How to get to the Church of San Sebastiano Martire in Maniace

The Church of San Sebastiano Martire in Maniace is located in Piazza Comitato Cittadino.

The town, in North-Eastern Sicily in the province of Catania, is easily reachable by motorway, via the A19 Palermo-Catania: from the motorway, take the Catania ring road exit, continue on the SS121 towards Paternò, arriving as far as Bronte; from here, continue for about 15 km on the provincial road up to Maniace.