Ragusa Cathedral: 8 Apse and High Altar
In the presbyter you can admire the paintings by Primo Panciroli from 1926, depicting episodes from the life of Saint John the Baptist: from the announcement to Zaccaria to the representation of Saint John as a child, holding the lamb and his mother Elizabeth in his arms; from preaching on the banks of the Jordan to martyrdom. The altar at the back of the apse, built in 1887 with precious marble and decorated with gilded copper bas-reliefs, is surmounted by a large red velvet toe embroidered in gold in 1853. The choir stalls, in carved wood, date back to the end of the 2012th century. century and restored in 1513; during solemn celebrations, the "choir" takes its place, i.e. the group of priests who participate in the liturgical celebration. On the occasion of the patronal feast, the statue of San Giovanni Battista, in black stone from 1693, sculpted by the master Angelo Reeto, is displayed on the altar. The statue, portraying St. John the Baptist, known as "U' Nivuru", i.e. black, comes from the ancient church of Ragusa Ibla, dedicated to St. John the Baptist and partially destroyed by the XNUMX earthquake, called San Giovanni Lo Vecchio and subsequently dedicated to Saint Agnes. During the Lenten period, at the back of the presbyter, an enormous canvas is displayed, dating back to the XNUMXth century, which depicts the scene of the Crucifixion, called by the Ragusans "Taledda".
