DK Travel : Sicily : History & Culture

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San Carlo al Corso, Noto

Dedicated to San Carlo Borromeo, the church of San Carlo is on the Corso and forms part of Noto’s dramatic Baroque skyline. It is currently acting as the town’s cathedral while the latter’s dome is under repair (see San Carlo al Corso).
San Domenico, Palermo

The “Pantheon” of Palermo is so-called because Sicily’s most illustrious citizens are buried here. Among them are the physicist Stanislao Cannizzaro, the parliamentarian Ruggero Settimo, the painter Pietro Novelli, and other members of the nobility (see San Domenico Church and Oratory of San Domenico and the Vucciria).
San Giorgio, Ragusa

Ragusa’s cathedral is built on a rise in a wide tree-lined piazza in the heart of the old town. The convex and undulating façade is typical of the architect Gagliardi, supporting a soaring central tower, bulging columns and swirly volutes.
San Nicola, Agrigento

The 13th-century church is located within the Valle dei Templi, and its façade incorporates Gothic motifs with ancient Roman columns. The interior was renovated in the early 1300s and the early 1400s. In a chapel on the right, there is an interesting Roman sarcophagus decorated with reliefs of Greek mythology (see San Nicola).
Sanctuary at Enna

The seat of the cult of Demeter and Persephone was at Enna on the boulder behind the castle. Their temple contained a statue of the Mother Goddess.
Sanctuary at Morgantina

Demeter and Persephone were worshipped as the protec-tresses of Morgantina. In the sanctuary see purification baths, altars for performing rituals and a well for sacred offerings.
Sanctuary at Palma di Montechiaro

Three 7th-century BC votive statuettes of Demeter or Persephone, now in Syracuse’s archaeological museum, were recovered from this sanctuary between Agrigento and Gela.
Santa Lucia, Syracuse

The Catholic Church often chose sites sacred to other cults on which to construct their places of worship, but this one is unique for being set within a previous site. Behind the Baroque façade, the structure of a Greek Temple to Athena has been adapted for use as a church.
Scylla

The hideous sea monster terrorized sailors passing the Straits of Messina.
Segesta

This peaceful and beautiful site comprises the ruins of one of the most important cities of the Elimi, the Hellenized Sicani peoples, and one of the most perfect Doric temples ever constructed. The temple’s purpose is unknown, adding further mystery to the already ethereal site – historians debate whether it was built to impress the Greeks in order to gain their military support, or whether it was to decorate a sacred site (see Segesta).