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1 Church of San Francesco d’Assisi in Catania and Palazzo Gravina
2 Monastery and Church of Saint Benedict in Catania
3 Church of San Francesco Borgia in Catania
4 Church of Saint Julian in Catania
5 Church of San Camillo de’ Lellis
6 Monastery of the Crociferi Fathers and Villa Cerami
7 Map of the Via dei Crociferi
8 Information

The Via Crociferi is called the “street of churches”, a monumental and emblematic street of Catania, very dense with Baroque architecture, not to be missed during a visit to the city.
In fact, over less than 200 metres, four churches follow one another along with three monasteries, Baroque monuments built after the 1693 earthquake, including civil buildings such as the Villa Cerami at the northern end of the street.
This street was one of the main axes of the post-seismic reconstruction and today constitutes one of the most homogeneous examples of 18th-century Catania Baroque.
It also stands out for its rectilinear plan, which favours the visual perspective of the Baroque façades, and for the integration of private palaces and cloisters into the urban alignment.

To the south, it starts from Piazza San Francesco d’Assisi, where the church of the same name stands.

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Church of San Francesco d’Assisi in Catania and Palazzo Gravina

The history of the Church of Saint Francis of Assisi at the Immaculate is linked to the figure of Queen Eleanor of Anjou, wife of Frederick II of Aragon and sister of Saint Louis. There is a plaque recalling that the remains of the queen, who died in 1343, are kept in the church. Furthermore, on an 18th-century canvas, the queen is depicted together with Saint Clare, the founder of the Order of the Poor Clares.
Its elegant Baroque façade was only completed in 1854, blending elements of late Sicilian Baroque with a Neoclassical portico.
In the vast interior space, the crossing is covered by a painting of a false dome. A beautiful 16th-century altar is preserved there, behind which a large fresco by Battaglia depicts the indulgence of the Porziuncola (the pardon of Assisi).
The organ to the right of the altar was used by Vincenzo Bellini during his childhood; he was born in Palazzo Gravina Cruyllas, located just opposite. It was in fact the residence of the composer’s family, today the seat of the museum dedicated to Bellini. 

As you go along the street, you pass under the arch of the Monastery of Saint Benedict, connecting the great abbey to the small abbey.

  • Arch of Saint Benedict, Via Crociferi, Catania
    Arch of Saint Benedict, Via Crociferi
  • Arch of Saint Benedict, Via Crociferi, Catania
    Arch of Saint Benedict, Via Crociferi
  • Church of Saint Francis of Assisi, Catania
    Church of Saint Francis of Assisi

Monastery and Church of Saint Benedict in Catania

Originally built in the mid-14th century, the nuns’ monastery was rebuilt in the early 18th century after the 1693 earthquake.
The suspended arch that crosses the Via Crociferi connects the great abbey, with its church of Saint Benedict (San Benedetto), to the small abbey. Also called “Arco delle Monache” (Arch of the Nuns), it was built to allow the cloistered nuns to move between the two buildings without leaving the monastery.
The façade of San Benedetto, rhythmically articulated with Corinthian columns and statue niches, is a typical example of 18th-century Sicilian Baroque. The niches contain statues of Benedictine saints and allegories of faith and charity.
The guided tour allows visitors to discover the site while respecting the nuns’ seclusion, such as the remains of a Roman domus in the basement, several rooms of the monastery, the Church of Saint Benedict (built between 1704 and 1713) and its imposing staircase, called the Scalinata degli Angeli, as well as the Museum of Contemporary Art of Sicily (MACS) in the small abbey.
Inside the church, one can discover Tuccari’s frescoes on the vault and the apse, illustrating the stories of Saint Benedict or his triumph framed by allegories. They are among the most representative of late Sicilian Baroque, incorporating illusionistic motifs and a dramatic use of light.
One can also admire the paintings by Desiderato and Rapisardi and the splendid altar decorated with polychrome marbles, jasper and silver leaf.

  • Church of Saint Benedict, Via Crociferi, Catania
    Church of Saint Benedict, Via Crociferi
  • Wooden portal of the Church of Saint Benedict in Catania
    Wooden portal of the Church of Saint Benedict
  • Churches Via Crociferi, Catania
    Churches Via Crociferi
  • Churches Via Crociferi, Catania
    Churches Via Crociferi

Church of San Francesco Borgia in Catania

The Church of San Francesco Borgia (dedicated to Saint Francis Borgia, Jesuit and relative of Charles V) is annexed to the Jesuit college that was used for religious and artistic education. It has a beautiful white stone façade and preserves remarkable works of art such as the pulpit with its sculpted drapery, the Chapel of San Ignazio and the Chapel of San Francesco Saverio covered with precious marbles. The entire Jesuit complex now houses the seat of the Academy of Fine Arts and temporary exhibitions.
The adjoining Jesuit cloister preserves frescoes and decorations typical of Sicilian Baroque.

Church of Saint Julian in Catania

Opposite the previous church, the Church of Saint Julian (San Giuliano) is considered a masterpiece of religious Baroque architecture, attributed to Vaccarini and completed in the mid-18th century.
Its harmonious façade stands out for its concave central section, preceded by an iron railing. The dome is surrounded by a polygonal loggia.
The interior, bathed in a beautiful golden light, has an octagonal plan with two arms forming a Greek cross. This church belonged to a monastery of Benedictine nuns; the upper loggia was used to attend Mass without direct contact with the outside. The interior also preserves stuccoes and frescoes attributed to Giuseppe Rapisardi from the 19th century.

  • Church of Saint Francis Borgia, Via Crociferi, Catania
    Church of Saint Francis Borgia, Via Crociferi, Catania
  • Church of Saint Julian, Via Crociferi, Catania
    Church of Saint Julian, Via Crociferi
  • Via Crociferi, Catania
    Via Crociferi

Church of San Camillo de’ Lellis

Continuing slightly further up the street, you come to the Church of San Camillo de’ Lellis, dedicated to the founder of the Camillians, built in the first half of the 18th century. It preserves a main altar adorned with polychrome marbles, a decorated coffered ceiling, carved details in the late Rococo style, and preserves frescoes illustrating the life of Saint Camillo and . Although more modest than the previous ones, it completes the Baroque ensemble of Via Crociferi. 

Monastery of the Crociferi Fathers and Villa Cerami

Further on, you reach the Monastery of the Crociferi Fathers, built between 1771 and 1780 to a design by Francesco Battaglia. And at the end of the street is the entrance to the Villa Cerami.
Villa Cerami, residence of the Rosso di Cerami family, was built after 1693 in a late Baroque style and remodelled in the 19th century. Its portal bears the family coat of arms, the courtyard contains a decorative fountain and a sculpture by Emilio Greco, La Grande Bagnante. It now houses the Faculty of Law of the University of Catania. 

  • Church of San Camillo de Lellis, Via Crociferi, Catania
    Church of San Camillo de Lellis, Via Crociferi
  • Via Crociferi, Catania
    Via Crociferi
  • Stairs to Via Crociferi, Catania
    Stairs leading to Via Crociferi
  • Villa Cerami, Via Crociferi, Catania
    Villa Cerami, Via Crociferi
  • Villa Cerami, Via Crociferi, Catania
    Villa Cerami, Via Crociferi
  • Church of Saint Benedict, Catania
    Church of Saint Benedict

Map of the Via dei Crociferi

Map of Via Crociferi in Catania: the Baroque churches Show interactive map

Information

Suggested itineraries and guided tours 

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