ACI
CATENA
The
small city of Aci Catena, owing its name to the cult of the Virgin
of the Chain, has a charming centre developing around the Piano
Umberto square onto which view the beautiful Town Hall and a number
of 1800’s and 1900’s attractive palazzi. There also
lie the 1700’s Mother Church and, next, the Palazzo Riggio,
unfortunately highly damaged. The neighboring via IV Novembre and
via Matrice are also adorned with elegant palaces. The area was
formerly called contrada degli scarpi due to the high number of
shoemakers living there.
Aci
Catena has managed to revive after a catastrophic earthquake in
1693 and a flood in 1761. It has a number of worth-visiting religious
buildings.
The
Mother Church, dedicated to the Madonna della Catena, is renowned
for housing several works, such as a painting by Vasta.
The
church of Santa Lucia was first erected in the 1500’s and
later rebuilt; it contains some fine frescoes dedicated to the Virgin
and to S. Anna.
The
convent of Sant’Antonio da Padova, now Town Hall, dates back
to the 17th century. On its inside are an ancient cloister with
frescoes dedicated to the Saint’s life and a small church.
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