Local prestige and nobility
The Church of the Holy Trinity belonged to an ancient Benedictine convent, founded in the 14th century and dissolved in 1866.
Destroyed by the earthquake of 1693, the church was rebuilt in the Val di Noto Baroque style between 1746 and 1751, following a design by the architect Francesco Battaglia, with contributions by Vaccarini and Ittar, both leading figures of Sicilian Baroque.
From an architectural point of view, the site reflects the prestige of the Benedictine Order and its strong ties with the local nobility. The façade has a sinuous profile, concave in the centre and convex at the sides, inspired by the architecture of Borromini, the defining figure of the Catania Baroque. The side towers are topped with two-tone domes, whilst the portal is surmounted by a tympanum featuring angels, symbolising the Trinity.
Frescoes and decorative elements of Sacred Art
Significant alterations to the building were made following the redevelopment of the main street, which led to the rising of the main entrance and the closure of the side entrance on Via Quartarone.
The side doorway is now a niche housing a 19th-century papier-mâché group depicting the Calvary, protected by a glass panel.
The interior, with its single nave, is richly decorated with stucco work, frescoes, and sacred artworks. Its unified layout, designed according to Tridentine principles, encourages prayerful reflection and active participation in worship.
Today, the former monastic places are divided between the Carabinieri barracks and the Boggio Lera Scientific High School.
Gathered in Beauty,
United in Faith
Opening Hours
- Tuesday: 4.00 pm–7.00 pm
- Saturday: 4.00 pm–7.00 pm
The Church of Holy Trinity
Via Vittorio Emanuele II 346, Catania
Holy Mass:
last Sunday of the month: h. 12.00 p.m.
Tickets
Ticket office at the Abbey of Sant’Agata.
Ticket office at the Abbey of Sant’Agata.
Tour of the Abbey Terrace and Dome + Churches of the Holy Trinity, St. Maria dell’Aiuto and House of Loreto and St. Rita.
€ 7.00
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For tourist information:
(+39) 327 1352519
