Description of the attraction
The Church of San Benedetto, which bears the title of basilica and was built between 1704 and 1713 in Catania, is dedicated to Saint Benedict of Nursia. Architect Antonio di Benedetto worked on the project. Located on one of the most beautiful streets in the city, Via dei Crociferi, it is part of a religious complex belonging to the Benedictine order of monks, which also includes the Large and Small Abbeys, connected by a covered bridge over Via dei Crociferi. Around the church there are various buildings built in the Sicilian Baroque style.
The main attraction of San Benedetto is the so-called Scalinata del Angelo - Ladder of the Angels. It is a marble staircase, decorated with statues of angels and surrounded by an amazingly beautiful wrought iron railings.
The church was erected on the site of another temple from the 14th century, destroyed during the earthquake in 1693. The baroque façade of the building is divided horizontally into two parts. At the bottom there is a wooden entrance door, decorated with inserts depicting scenes from the life of St. Benedict and framed on the sides by two columns. The creation of this door is credited to the renowned architect Vaccarini.
Inside the one-nave church, you can see frescoes by Stefano Lo Monaco, Giovanni Tuccari and Matteo Desiderato depicting the Coronation of the Virgin Mary and other religious subjects. The vaults of the church are also decorated with frescoes depicting scenes from the life of St. Benedict. The high altar is made of polychrome marble with mosaics carved from rubble and bronze panels. It is also adorned with silver and gold. The marble flooring has been preserved from the previous church.
