San Giacomo, church in Capizzi, Italy
San Giacomo is a three-aisle church building with columns forming a sanctuary in central Capizzi. Beneath ornate painted vaults decorated with frescoes and stuccos sits a central altar holding a statue of the saint in a gilded shrine, surrounded by side chapels with marble altars and paintings.
Founded during the Norman period, this is one of Sicily's oldest churches. The structure expanded over centuries, particularly from the 1300s onward, as Aragonese rulers enlarged it and relics of Saint James, including a finger joint, were brought to the shrine.
The church faces Piazza Umberto I and serves as the spiritual heart of Capizzi. Each July, the community gathers here for celebrations honoring the patron saint, with processions and ceremonies that fill the streets.
The church is accessed from the main square, making it easy to locate within the town. The interior is freely open for visitors to explore the three aisles and side chapels at their own pace without restrictions.
In 1435, an Aragonese knight brought a finger joint of Saint James, making it the earliest known relic of this kind in Sicily. The fragment remains housed here and marks the shrine as a turning point in the island's pilgrimage traditions.
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