The Church of Sant'Antonio Abate in Buccheri

The Church of Sant'Antonio Abate in Buccheri

In Buccheri, the church of S. Antonio Abate is located in such a position as to dominate the town in the province of Syracuse and, thanks to its slender and high facade adorned with columns and with the central Bell tower, accentuates the scenography of the existing urban fabric.

The history of the Church of S. Antonio Abate in Buccheri

The exact year of its construction is not known of the parish of S. Antonio Abate in Buccheri even if a cornerstone of the apse bears an engraving bearing the date 1212 which, for many, should be the year of its construction even if there are no certainties.
An objective documentation from August 1538 which deals with a sale of houses establishes that the proceeds must be directed to the construction of a chapel and another document from 1540 attests that the painters Nicolao de Noto and Aloisio Torres they promise to paint glorious figures. What is certain is that in 1593 the laying of the first stone was blessed, but it could also be that this referred to a second church.
However, a donation from 1622 allows the construction of a new chapel to house 15 images of the Elderly and three years later there is the completion of the choir.

The parish of S. Antonio Abate in Buccheri was oriented differently from the one we see today as the facade originally faced the square Fratti where, in medieval times, the heart of the town was located. In 1693 a tremendous earthquake totally demolished the church which was rebuilt on the same place but enlarging it and orienting it towards the south or where in the meantime the city had expanded.

It was also a way to redefine an urban fabric which respected the typical geometric scheme belonging to the Baroque and which was defined at the cardinal points by the Calvary, from the church of St. Mary Magdalene, from the mother church and precisely, from the church of S. Antonio.

The reconstruction took place after the site of the old religious building was excavated and some land was confiscated to expand the new church.

Architecture and works of art present in the Church of S. Antonio Abate in Buccheri

The parish of S. Antonio Abate in Buccheri has an interior with three naves with columns that form the basis of round arches and is similar to that of S. Maria Maddalena.

The elegant stuccos that decorate the central nave date back to 1757 and are due to Gianforma while the two paintings in the right nave and the first one in the left nave are attributable to Antonio Sortino.

In addition to a canvas by Giovanni Tuccari from Messina visible on the third altar of the nave, there are two paintings by William Borremans and I'm '' San Vito with the saints Modesto and Crescenza'' placed in the chapel on the left and an altarpiece depicting ''St. Anthony in ecstasy'' both from the first half of the eighteenth century.

The seats, the presbytery chair and the wooden choir dating back to 1790 and all works by the Catania artist do not go unnoticed Dominic Avola who, ten years later, also created the pulpit.
The statue depicting Sant'Antonio Abate, the one that is carried in procession during his feast day, was made in 1743 by Michelangelo DiGiacomo also author of the resurrected Christ sculpted in 1737.

Note the marble altar frontal on which a seventeenth-century relief is carved illustrating biblical scenes.

What you can do around the Church of S. Antonio Abate in Buccheri

Those who reach the Parish of S. Antonio Abate in Buccheri must know that this is the highest center of the Mount Iblei and is located right on the slopes of Mount Lauro. The territory testifies, through the archaeological remains present, the succession of the various peoples who dominated the territory starting from the Sicilians passing through Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Arabs and Normans. Just these last two conquerors fortified the area and this can be seen from the important remains of a castle built to defend the territory.

The earthquake of the late seventeenth century forced the population to completely rebuild the town following the indications provided by the Baroque style. The church of Santa Maria Maddalena and the Mother Church, characterized by the unfinished facade.

Just eight kilometers from the center of Buccheri in the direction of Lentini, we suggest a visit to a Templar outpost built in the Gothic style, the church of Sant'Andrea, used in the XNUMXth century by Frederick II.

Also interesting is the cave of San Nicola, a Christian era church dug entirely into the rock and full of frescoes that are still partially visible today.

We must remember the peculiarity of the people who have lived and still live in Buccheri, i.e. their peasant culture which has been able to produce products of excellence such as extra virgin olive oil, awarded on several occasions in various international and food and wine competitions and such as to insert Buccheri, among the Hundred Destinations of Italy fromItalian Observatory for Food and Wine Excellence. Buccheri was also awarded as "Best Culinary Destination in the World" by the World Food Travel Association.

How is it possible to get to the Church of S. Antonio Abate in Buccheri

By car:

The car is the suggested way to go to Buccheri, as it is also the fastest.
From Syracuse take the Provincial Road 14 (Maremonti) in the direction of Palazzolo Acreide, after having entered the State Road 287, pass Palazzolo and continue on the State Road 124 following the signs for Buccheri.

From Catania, take the A18 motorway and exit at the Lentini junction. Continue on State Road 194 towards Vizzini and take State Road 124 for Buccheri.