Chiesa dei Minoriti, Baroque church in Via Etnea, Catania, Italy
Chiesa dei Minoriti is a Baroque church in Catania featuring a central nave flanked by two aisles and marked by a light limestone facade. The three-part interior layout contains religious artworks including an altarpiece depicting Saint Francesco Caracciolo and the Archangel Michael.
The original structure fell to a devastating earthquake in 1693, prompting the Minorite order to commission a replacement. Reconstruction progressed gradually and the main building was completed in 1750 under architect Francesco Battaglia's design.
The interior retains wooden choir stalls on either side where monks once sang during services. Religious artworks displayed throughout the church reveal which saints held meaning for the local community.
The church sits on Via Etnea in downtown Catania and welcomes visitors freely without admission charges. As an active place of worship, visiting hours may shift around service times so checking ahead helps plan your visit.
The dome came later than the main structure, completed between 1771 and 1787 with blue tiles that scatter sunlight throughout the interior. This delayed addition creates a visual effect that catches visitors' attention when they look upward.
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