Church of S. Nicolò and of the SS. Salvatore - Militello in Val di Catania

In Via Umberto I with the main façade overlooking Via Matrice. The Mother Church of S. Nicolò and its beautiful bell tower were completely destroyed by the violent earthquake of 1693. The construction of the new building was begun in December 1721 and in March 1740 the new Mother Church was blessed and opened for worship; it is composed of three naves, separated by pillars, on a Latin cross plan. In 1755 the second superior order of the Church was built by the famous Catania architect Francesco Battaglia; while in 1776, again based on a design by Battaglia, the bell tower was completed where the bells of the old church were installed. In 1788 the Church was also dedicated to the SS. Savior. In 1904 the construction of the new Mother Church was completed with the construction of a dome about 30 meters high (by S.Sortino), which is one of the first examples in Sicily of reinforced concrete construction. Much of the rich artistic heritage of Militello (paintings, silver, statues, vestments, etc.) is kept in the Mother Church and in the annexed Museo S. Nicolò. Along the side aisles there are also five altars of exquisite workmanship recovered from the old matrix.