Church of S. Maria dell'Aiuto (or S. Marina) - Catania
The church is preceded by an elevated churchyard closed by a gate. Since 1635 the miraculous image of the Madonna was honored, kept in the church of S. Marina in via Pozzo Mulino. To give a better arrangement to the icon it was placed near the church of SS. Pietro e Paolo which, from that moment on, was called the church of S. Maria dell'Aiuto. After the earthquake of 1693 the building was rebuilt; the current facade is by A. Battaglia. Inside, the church houses precious works of art and artistic craftsmanship; among these the altar of the Crucifix stands out with a precious reliquary with 24 reliquaries. The splendid high altar entirely in marble deserves a separate mention; in the center is the image of Mary set in a precious frame. A heartfelt description of the altar is that of Salvatore Lo Presti who wrote in the newspaper Il Popolo di Sicilia (1943): “The high altar is a sweet symphony of colored marbles and slender columns. Crowned by an animated marble group symbolizing the Eternal Father seated above the clouds and surrounded by five angels, one of whom, on his left, holds a large globe, at both ends, at the height of the ciborium, is adorned with two statues of medium size. grandeur, representing, respectively, St. Peter and St. Paul ".
Card insertion: Ignatius Caloggero
Photo: Ignazio Caloggero
Information contributions: Ignazio Caloggero, Web
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