{"id":49254,"date":"2026-03-18T09:33:31","date_gmt":"2026-03-18T09:33:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pulcherrimacatania.it\/the-church-of-saint-rita-in-saint-augustine\/"},"modified":"2026-06-22T10:58:43","modified_gmt":"2026-06-22T10:58:43","slug":"the-church-of-saint-rita-in-saint-augustine","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.pulcherrimacatania.it\/en\/the-church-of-saint-rita-in-saint-augustine\/","title":{"rendered":"The Church of Saint Rita in Saint Augustine"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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The Church of Saint Rita in Saint Augustine<\/h1><\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Atmosphere and Faith<\/span><\/h1>
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The Church of Saint Rita in Saint Augustine, originally dedicated to St. James, was first built in 1615 to a design by Giovan Battista Palazzotto. Destroyed by the earthquake of 1693, it was later rebuilt, combining Baroque features with elements added in subsequent periods. <\/span><\/p>

The fa\u00e7ade is divided into two levels: in the upper section, a large central window allows natural light to enter, while the lower section is distinguished by four Corinthian columns and a raised entrance.<\/span><\/p>

The bell gable<\/strong> dominates the fa\u00e7ade, giving the building an elegant and slender appearance.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\tTHE MIRACLES OF SAINT RITA<\/span>

A journey through Art and Spirituality<\/em><\/span><\/h1><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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The interior has a single nave with six chapels, marble altars, and striking statues by Giuseppe Stuflesser of Ortisei, including two depicting the Sacred Heart and Saint Augustine<\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>

The church interior is richly decorated with works dedicated to the life and miracles of Saint Rita<\/strong>, making it one of the most important places connected with celebrations in her honour. <\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Four paintings from the Sanctuary underwent restoration between 2014 and 2016.<\/b> The restoration work has restored the lustre, integrity and clarity of The Glorification of <\/strong>Saint Emidius with Christ, the Virgin Mary and Saint Agatha<\/b> (c. 1750), The Madonna of the Belt with Saint Augustine and Saint Monica <\/b>(1700), the Old Man<\/strong> at the Alms of St Thomas of Villanova<\/b> (1809) and the Ecstasy of St Nicholas of Tolentino <\/b>(1804\u20131805).<\/p>

Beneath the church, an underground hypogeum with seven burial chambers<\/strong> has been discovered.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\tSee the Gallery<\/span>

Popular devotion,
sacred heart of <\/span>Catania<\/span><\/h1><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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