Santuario di Santa Maria dell'Aiuto (Church of Santa Maria dell'Aiuto), Catania
The Church of Santa Maria dell'Aiuto is a beautiful parish church overlooking the square of the same name. The current temple was built on the ruins of the church of Saints Peter and Paul following the earthquake of 1693, and is designed by Antonino Battaglia and decorated by Michele Orlando.
Preceded by a wide staircase of about a dozen steps, the façade has a broken pediment with columns with modified ionic capitals, superimposed with two equally tall solid stone columns with Corinthian capitals. The lateral volutes are framed by two statues depicting Saints Peter and Paul. Flanking the left of the façade is a bell-tower with a clock, completed in the 19th century.
The interior contains a chapel housing a reduced-scale replica of the Holy House of Loreto and its marble screen added in the 1740s. There is also an elaborate reliquary in the altar of the Crucifix. The venerated icon of the Virgin is housed above the polychrome marble altar. Statues of Saint Peter and Paul and a depiction of God the Father frame the icon.
The second altar on the left contains a Crucifix with a wall of relics. The first altar on the right has a copy of the painting by Filippo Paladini depicting the Martyrdom of Saint Agatha; the original is housed in the Catania Cathedral.
Preceded by a wide staircase of about a dozen steps, the façade has a broken pediment with columns with modified ionic capitals, superimposed with two equally tall solid stone columns with Corinthian capitals. The lateral volutes are framed by two statues depicting Saints Peter and Paul. Flanking the left of the façade is a bell-tower with a clock, completed in the 19th century.
The interior contains a chapel housing a reduced-scale replica of the Holy House of Loreto and its marble screen added in the 1740s. There is also an elaborate reliquary in the altar of the Crucifix. The venerated icon of the Virgin is housed above the polychrome marble altar. Statues of Saint Peter and Paul and a depiction of God the Father frame the icon.
The second altar on the left contains a Crucifix with a wall of relics. The first altar on the right has a copy of the painting by Filippo Paladini depicting the Martyrdom of Saint Agatha; the original is housed in the Catania Cathedral.
Sight description based on Wikipedia.
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Santuario di Santa Maria dell'Aiuto (Church of Santa Maria dell'Aiuto) on Map
Sight Name: Santuario di Santa Maria dell'Aiuto (Church of Santa Maria dell'Aiuto)
Sight Location: Catania, Italy (See walking tours in Catania)
Sight Type: Religious
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Catania, Italy (See walking tours in Catania)
Sight Type: Religious
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Catania, Italy
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Creating your own self-guided walk in Catania is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Historical Churches Walking Tour
Just as many other Italian destinations, the Sicilian city of Catania is full of churches, especially in the historic center, where the presence of religious sites is particularly high! A good number of local churches date back centuries, and as such represent marvelous pieces of architecture, adding much character to the area. It is also commonplace to find inside most of them, be it a duomo,... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.6 Km or 1 Miles
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.6 Km or 1 Miles
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The original village of Katane was occupied by Greek settlers in the eighth century BC. During the first Punic War, Catania became a Roman city. The Vandals... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.8 Km or 2.4 Miles
The original village of Katane was occupied by Greek settlers in the eighth century BC. During the first Punic War, Catania became a Roman city. The Vandals... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.8 Km or 2.4 Miles