SANT'AGATA CATTEDRALE

This cathedral was built in the 11th century by Roger the Norman on the ruins of Roman baths. Called the fortress-church, overlooking the sea, its purpose was to protect the inhabitants from dangerous Saracen incursions with towers, crenellated walls, pepperpots and loopholes. But only the apses and the transept resisted the earthquake of 1693 and different styles have been superimposed over the centuries.

The superb main façade was created by Vaccarini between 1730 and 1758, who also devoted his talent to the decoration of the walls of the transept. On the left wall of the sacristy, G. Platania painted a fresco of the 1669 eruption of Mount Etna, which he probably witnessed. The church keeps the relics and the treasure of Sant'Agata, patron saint of the city (in case of eruption, you will know who to turn to!), in the chapel of the right side apse, as well as the tombs of the kings of Aragon and the tomb of Bellini. The church in the digital age also offers the possibility of sending prayer intentions by e-mail to Saint Agatha, just imagine!

The legend of the martyrdom of Saint Agatha. Seduced by the immense beauty of Agatha, a young girl from a noble family, the Roman consul Quinziano decided to marry her. This was in 250 AD. Agatha, who was promised to God, declined the proposal. Disappointed and frustrated, the consul of Catania had her arrested and handed her over to a matron, Afrodisia, to be perverted. The young Agatha resisted the pressure and did not deny her faith. Denounced as a Christian, Agatha was tried and sentenced to torture. She endured her torments without complaint. The judge then asked that her breasts be cut off. Agatha was imprisoned half-dying without ever having denied her faith. The next day, the young martyr was miraculously healed of all her wounds and professed her faith again before her judges. The consul then decided to have her burned on a bed of embers. During Agatha's agony, a terrible earthquake occurred, which led to the conversion of the Catalan population. The martyrdom of Agatha is recounted in the sculptures and frescos of the cathedral. Patron saint of the city, she is celebrated from the^1st to the 5th of February.

The procession of the feast of Sant'Agata. Great religious procession with 11 golden candelabras and the relics of the saint carried by penitents who came to repent. At that time the great names of the mafia families (very religious) came to lift the religious emblems of the city.