The Church of Sant'Antonio and Consolazione in Aci Bonaccorsi

The Church of Sant'Antonio Abate, also known as the Church of Santa Maria della Consolazione, is located in Aci Bonaccorsi, in the Metropolitan City of Catania and in the town it is one of the most important sacred places for the community, as well as among the most important architectural buildings in the municipality.

The small town, populated by around 3500 souls, is a harmonious center attentive to the protection of the environment and also of the urban landscape, so that today visiting it is very pleasant for tourists, who will also find many other attractions in the surrounding area, in addition to the Church of S. Antonio and S. Maria della Consolazione.

The sacred building is perfectly inserted into the urban fabric of the centre, close to the inhabited houses and therefore in very close contact with the community of the faithful.
Right there where the church stands, an ancient church already existed in the year XNUMX, today replaced by the eighteenth-century construction: thanks to the epigraphs on the facade, it is possible to reconstruct the historical evolution of this place of worship.

Over the years, the church has been the subject of various renovations, both in terms of the architectural and artistic aspects: apse and frescoes they have recently been restored and brought back to their original splendor.

The building, as we see it today, was renovated during the twentieth century, but already in the seventeenth century it had undergone a partial reconstruction, due to the earthquake that destroyed this monument to the memory of Sant'Antonio Abate in 1693.

Architecture and works of art of the church of s. Antonio and consolation to Aci Bonaccorsi

The dimensions of the Church of S. Antonio and Consolazione should not be misleading: small, almost tiny, from the outside it appears little larger than the houses that surround it, but the bell tower, the portal and above all the interiors make it one of the sacred buildings most important in the country: upon entering you can admire beautiful paintings and frescoes, as well as the Tombstone of Saint Anthony.

The main facade of the church welcomes the faithful with a door framed in dark stone, then, just a few steps and you immediately enter inside, where you notice the beauty of the colonnade, the brightness of the main nave and the apse area, characterized by the Romanesque.

The works of art that are kept in the church are of great value: all the walls are decorated with frescoes representing sacred scenes, while two large eighteenth-century paintings represent the Madonna of Consolation with the Risen Christ and Saint Anthony the Abbot.

In the center of the church, on the floor, the plaque in memory of Saint Anthony was placed, which also commemorates the reconstruction of the church after the earthquake.

Currently, however, the wooden sculptures that decorated the apse with a balustrade and the covering of the altar are no longer present in the church.

What to do around the church of S. Antonio and consolation to Aci Bonaccorsi

The most important Church of Aci Bonaccorsi is a place of great importance from an artistic point of view, but it is first and foremost a sacred place: tourists who wish to retreat in prayer or attend mass are well welcomed, as are the faithful local.

After mass, it is possible to visit the church to admire all its beauties.

Who comes to Aci Bonaccorsi on holiday, or is located nearby, you can take advantage of the visit to also admire other monuments that are located not far from the town.

Less than 10 km away, overlooking the sea, is the Castle of Aci, important civil architecture of the medieval period; a little further south, 15 km away, there is the Historical Museum of the Landing in Sicily 1943, for those who want to delve directly into the territory on a section of our most recent history. Not far away, cinema enthusiasts can dedicate an hour to visiting the Catania Cinema Museum, which showcases, among other things, a section dedicated exclusively to Sicilian cinematography.

There really is something for all tastes in this little corner of Sicily, without forgetting of course the delicious food, to take a culinary break between one attraction and another.

How to get to the church of S. Antonio and consolation to Aci Bonaccorsi

The Church of Sant'Antonio Abate and Santa Maria della Consolazione is located in Aci Bonaccorsi, in via Vincenzo Bellini, right in front of the Fountain of Piazza Bellini.

Aci Bonaccorsi, in the Metropolitan City of Catania, can be easily reached either by car than by train.

For travelers arriving by car, we recommend taking the motorway: the solutions are the A18 Messina-Catania, with exit at Acireale (about 3 km from Aci Bonaccorsi) and the A19 Palermo-Catania, with exit at Catania Center (14 km from the destination).

Those who want to reach Aci Bonaccorsi on the train, you can book a ride to Acireale station, about 5 km away or alternatively, Catania Europa station, about 9 km away. By getting off at the station you can get to Aci Bonaccorsi using the public bus service or private shuttle.