The Mother Church of the Immaculate Conception in Centuripe

The Mother Church of Centuripe

The Immaculate Conception Mother Church in Centuripe is the most famous place of worship in the country. It was designed in the early 1728th century and was completed in XNUMX. In a central position, it represents the fulcrum of city life and is still considered today one of the buildings of greatest historical interest in the town of Centuripe.

Mother Church of the Immaculate Conception in Centuripe: architecture and works of art of the left aisle

The Mother Church of Centuripe stands out in Piazza Duomo with its whiteness rosy color and nineteenth-century façade with three orders. The clock and the housing for the small bell tower have been positioned in the upper part.

As soon as you enter the basilica, you can appreciate the finely decorated interior. Stuccos of all kinds that enrich both the walls and the ceilings, floral embellishments and cherubs that adorn the three naves enclosed by apses.

The left aisle houses five marble altars, the first and also the most important is dedicated to Saints Ignatius of Loyola, Louis and Stanislaus. Only in 2017, following some restoration work that the superintendence had started on the canvas, was the original painting discovered which represents the Saint with his feet resting on a globe and four figures placed on the sides which instead represent the four continents of the time known.

The second altar is dedicated to Saint Anthony of Padua and nearby you can see a tombstone dated 1743-1827, belonging to prince of Paternò. At the third altar we find the Transit of San Giuseppe, a canvas dating back to 1600, whose origins are unknown. Also from the same period is the work representing i Saints Anna and Joachim, placed on the fourth altar. And finally the canvas that stands out on the fifth altar which represents the Our Lady of the Rosary, by Francis Sutera.

Mother Church of the Immaculate Conception in Centuripe: works of art in the right aisle

The right nave has a first area dedicated to the baptismal font and further on it also houses several marble altars. The first canvas dates back to 1600 and represents the Trinity, at the second altar there is a painting made by the painter James Portal in 1803 and representing the Our Lady of Carmel, and on the third altar a work has been arranged consisting of a wooden crucifix covered with mirrors resting on a canvas from 1820.

The last portion of the nave is dedicated to San Gregorio Magno, while the two altars are consecrated respectively to Santa Rosalia and San Prospero, the patron saints of Centuripe. It is possible to admire a canvas from the second half of the 1600s which represents Santa Rosalia receiving a crown from the angels near the church where she had chosen to live as a hermit. San Prospero is instead present on a canvas from the 1700s, the author of which is unknown, and is depicted with a red cross banner in his hands.

Mother Church of the Immaculate Conception in Centuripe: what to see nearby

Those who come to Centuripe to admire the Mother Church of the Immaculate Conception will certainly appreciate the other historical testimonies present in the town and in its immediate vicinity.
The Roman mausoleum it is a funerary building dating back to the Roman occupation. It is also known by the name of Corradino because of the Swabian Corrado Capece who tried to stop the Angevin advance here. Unfortunately this is not a story with a happy ending, as Corradino, after losing the battle, was deported to Catania, blinded and hanged.

In addition to its notable historical importance, this is also one of the most panoramic points of Centuripe, and offers a view over the entire valley which allows the town to earn the definition of Balcony of Sicily.
The Centuripe Archaeological Museum it is located in the center and although not large, it preserves numerous historical artifacts that tell 3000 years of history Greek and Roman.
The remains of Roman thermal baths they are another of Centuripe's main attractions.

Five arches at the foot of a hill where it is possible to admire some original pictorial decorations dating back to Roman times. Although very ancient, a coin from 1246 testifies to the use of these baths also in the millennium following the Roman domination.
A short distance from Centuripe is the abandoned village of Find us. A small residential nucleus left to itself since 1700 and whose only inhabitants recorded since then are colorful peacocks.

Mother Church of the Immaculate Conception in Centuripe: how to reach your destination

Centuripe is very well connected with Palermo and Catania via the A19 motorway. Exiting at Catenanuova, just take a provincial road and arrive in Centuripe in a few minutes. Equally comfortable are the SS121 which leaves from Catania and the SS192 which allows you to reach your destination crossing the southern part.
For those who prefer to use the railway line and public transport, they can reach Centuripe thanks to the Catenanuova-Centuripe station and then continue by taking an extra-urban bus service that connects the train stop with the historic center of the town.

© Nicolò Fiorenza, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons; Davide Mauro, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons