Sant'Agata Cathedral

Sant'Agata Cathedral

Catania, Sicily, Italy

Cathedral Sign  with Description and Diagrams

Sant'Agata at Night

Sant'Agata at Night

"No visit to Catania is complete without seeing the cathedral dedicated to the city's patron saint, Sant'Agata. The virgin-martyr was killed in 351 for refusing the lecherous advances of a Roman lord. Her mortal remains are in reliquaries in the cathedral.

Plazza del Duomo Elephant Statue

"The frosted facade is a cake-like beauty that sets off the Piazza del Duomo, studded with icing-like statues, balustrades and adornments along the roofline. It is a lovely cathedral, though the current version dates to mid-1700s. The first church was built here in the Norman era, between 1086 and 1094. It was expanded and adorned over the years, and the Benedictine monastery was added next door. The church utilized some columns, friezes and capitals recycled from ancient Roman ruins. Then the 1693 earthquake dismantled many parts of the original structure, including the bell tower, which fell and demolished some of the church below it. The cathedral was rebuilt, giving it the style you see today, while retaining the portions of the Norman structure that had been left intact, most notably the apse. The interior is a soaring space, with beautiful elements and artwork, and in impressive pipe organ." (Link 1.)

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Photos: Taken in October 2018 by RW  while travelling to Italy.  

                                                           

Link 1: https://www.summerinitaly.com/guide/cathedral-and-badia-of-sant-agata

Link 2: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agatha_of_Sicily

                                                                         Prayer

God, be with persecuted Christians throughout the world. Amen (SW.)