Cathedral of Saint Agatha

Overview

The Cathedral of Saint Agatha (Cattedrale di Sant'Agata) is the mother church of the Archdiocese of Catania, dedicated to the city's patron saint. Originally Norman (1078–1093), it was rebuilt in baroque style after the 1693 earthquake and combines Roman columns, medieval apses, and an 18th-century façade by Giovanni Battista Vaccarini.

Highlights

• Chapel of Saint Agatha: Houses the saint's reliquary bust and silver casket, paraded through the city each February during one of the world's largest religious festivals.
• Bellini's tomb: The remains of composer Vincenzo Bellini rest inside the cathedral in a marble sarcophagus near the entrance.
• Norman apses: Three semicircular apses survive from the original 11th-century basilica, visible from Via Vittorio Emanuele.

History

Roger I of Sicily founded the first cathedral on this site in 1078, incorporating columns from a Roman theatre. Earthquakes in 1169 and 1693 destroyed most of the structure. The current baroque façade was designed by Vaccarini around 1736, while the interior retains elements from multiple rebuilding phases.

Visitor Tips

• Tip 1: The Feast of Saint Agatha (3–5 February) draws over a million pilgrims — plan accordingly.
• Tip 2: Enter through the side door to see the original Norman columns reused from the Roman theatre.
• Duration: 30–50 minutes.