Catania - Cathedral of Sant'Agata

The cathedral of Sant'Agata in Catania stands, according to tradition, on the spot where Saint Agatha died a martyr's death in 251, and owes its existence to the Benedictine abbey of Sant'Agata which in 1092 was promoted to a bishopric.

History

Between 1086 and 1090, shortly after Catania was conquered by the Normans under Roger I (1085), the building of the cathedral was begun, and on the very spot where the Roman springs of Achilles had been. From these remains, as well as those of other ancient buildings, the materials were taken for the three-aisled cross-shaped basilica.

Earthquakes in 1140 and 1169 soon made extensive repairs necessary and after the earthquake of 1693 a complete renovation was indispensable. The nave was kept to its original measurements. During excavations which took place during a recent restoration (1950-59), it was possible to establish that underneath the Baroque exterior additions the complete east part of the building has been preserved in its original condition. The long protruding transept with its detached side rooms and three apses, the external sides of which are divided by false arcades, can be seen from the courtyard of the archbishop's palace. In the interior these parts have had their original building materials made visible, as well as the pointed arches so characteristic of the Normans and the columns set into the edges of the building. During the reconstruction the nave was rebuilt under the direction of Girolamo Palazzotto, and in 1736 G. B. Vaccarini completed the facade. For this he used six columns from the previously destroyed Norman cathedral. These themselves had been fashioned from the remains of ancient buildings.