The Mother Church of San Nicola di Bari in Trecastagni

The patron saint of Trecastagni, a town in the province of Catania, is San Nicola di Bari and not only an annual festival but obviously also a church of the same name has been dedicated to him since the fifteenth century. The Mother Parish of San Nicola di Bari in Trecastagni, which represents the place of worship most important of the village, is a more than valid reason to organize a trip to this town: here's everything you need to know to do it better.

The history of the Mother Church of San Nicola di Bari in Trecastagni

The relationship between San Nicola and Trecastagni has always been very close, so much so that at the beginning of the fifteenth century the citizens decided to demolish the old mother church to build one dedicated to St. Nicholas. The presence on the island of numerous dominations which have always maintained a peaceful coexistence has meant that the cult of the Saint was not only accepted but also encouraged.

Hence the decision to build the new structure on top of one hill, just to underline the position of privilege and protection that the Saint bestows on the town and all its inhabitants. In 1446 Pope Eugene IV decided to aggregate the Church of San Nicola to the possessions of the Collegiate Church of S. Maria dell'Elemosina in Catania and in the following centuries the parish priest of the church had to refer directly to the bishop of Catania.

In 1667, however, the then bishop decided to raise it to the rank of archpriesthood, thus emphasizing the importance of the place of worship. In 1690 the construction of the church reached its climax, as a plaque engraved on the main façade recalls. A few years later, however, precisely in 1693, the structure partially collapsed due to a violent earthquake and reopened to the faithful only in 1720, after a careful restoration.

From 1886 the church starts a period of decline given that due to the subversive laws the clergy is deprived of a large part of its assets. Fortunately, however, from 1904 a slow ascent began to bring it to today's splendour.

The architecture and works of art present in the Mother Church of San Nicola di Bari in Trecastagni

To access the Mother Church of San Nicola di Bari in Trecastagni it is necessary to travel a long e steep staircase made of lava stone. Its main facade, as is often the case for places of worship on the slopes of Etna, is built as if it were a theatrical backdrop that hides the rear space. The facade is divided by a series of pilasters which are shaped like lava blocks and which ideally support a basalt on which the bell tower stands.

The main gate is exquisitely tasteful barocco, with pairs of columns and Corinthian capitals as a frame. Finally, the door is in bronze. Inside, the church is divided into three naves, with a single transept and three apses.

The initial project seems to be the work of the architect Domenico Gagini, who had been a pupil of Brunelleschi, but it was his son Antonello who completed it, making some small structural modifications and giving the interior space a typical Renaissance style. The roof of the church is barrel vaulted with small lunette windows from which natural light arrives.

What you can see inside the Mother Church of San Nicola di Bari in Trecastagni

Inside the Mother Church of San Nicola di Bari in Trecastagni it is possible to admire some truly valuable works. For example, inside the chapel of the Sacred Heart there is an imposing wooden statue that portrays the Our Lady of Carmel and that it was built in the eighteenth century.

From the right aisle, through a stone arch, you enter what everyone knows as the chapel of San Nicola which contains a beautiful painting portraying the Saint, created by the artist G. Zacco and framed by a marble listel that has been elegantly inlaid.

Another element of great effect inside the Mother Parish of San Nicola di Bari in Trecastagni is the lava stone altar, which bears the same arched decorations present in the rest of the structure. At the heart of it is a niche inside which the seventeenth-century simulacrum of San Nicola is kept. Finally, a special mention for the altarpiece depicting the Baptism of Jesus made in 1953 by A. Cirinnà.

How to get to Trecastagni

Trecastagni is just 15 km from Catania and can be easily reached in less than 20 minutes by car autoalong the internal roads. In particular, there are two ways: the first which includes the route that includes Via del Bosco and Via Fisichelli, while the second which is a little longer as you have to go along Via Etnea. Those coming by car from Palermo, on the other hand, will have to take the A19 motorway to the Catania Centro exit and then follow the signs for Trecastagni.

Who prefers thebus numbers you will find the service offered by the ATS company very convenient, which connects Catania with Trecastagni several times a day. Finally, the reference railway station is that of Acireale since the locality does not have its own: from there it is then possible to continue with the local bus service.