Church of Madonna del Carmine, Catania

The Church of Madonna del Carmine in Catania stands as a magnificent testament to the city’s deep Catholic traditions and rich history. Situated in the expansive and lively Carlo Alberto Square, this Roman Catholic minor basilica and Marian sanctuary attracts locals and visitors alike. Its roots trace back to a site with a storied past, once hosting a pagan temple dedicated to Jove and later a Christian church, Saint Lucia Outside the Walls, which was tragically destroyed by an earthquake in 1075. The subsequent replacement, dedicated to the Virgin of the Annunciation, eventually came under the care of the Carmelite Fathers in the 13th century.

The church as it appears today was constructed in 1729, following significant damage caused by the 1693 Sicily earthquake. Its impressive Baroque façade, attributed to Francesco Battaglia, features a giant order of columns and a niche holding a statue of the Virgin of the Carmine, crowned by 19th-century bells. The square outside hosts a bustling marketplace, adding a vibrant contrast to the solemnity of the church.

Inside, the church houses stunning works by Sicilian painters of the 18th century, as well as numerous large altarpieces and funerary monuments. One unique piece is a wooden icon of Saint Agatha, curiously modeled after Rosalia Petruso Grimaldi, an aristocrat whose tragic death in 1784 added a haunting layer to the church's history. Offerings left by locals who have received pardons through the intercession of Our Lady of Mount Carmel adorn the interior, showcasing the enduring devotion of the faithful.

The adjacent convent, now a barracks since the 19th century, holds remnants of the site’s ancient Roman past, including tomb fragments once associated with Stesichorus. Legend also places the church as the initial resting place of Saint Agatha, further entwining it with Catania’s spiritual and historical narrative.