Siracusa - Santa Lucia

Santa Lucia in Syracuse is a 12th century triple-aisled columned basilica. It replaced an earlier church which was built in the sixth century on the spot where St Lucia was murdered. The portal and rose-window above it at the west end of the church are remnants of the old Gothic building. Baroque porticoes have been built on this end and on the south side. The original open roof trusses still remain, otherwise the interior has been converted to the Baroque style. The altar-piece "The Interment of St Lucia" is now in the Palazzo Bellomo. Large numbers of graves were uncovered in recent excavations made in the west portico of the church.