| From St. Anthony Square to St. Peter's |
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Piano S. Antonio After turning into via Umberto I, you immediately find the 17th century church of the Holy Souls in Purgatory, with a rectangular shaped large nave, with altars built into the walls, containing in its interior double paraments, completely painted and dating back to the 17th century.
If you follow the side street alongside it you come to the square of Sant'Antonio, which takes its name from the church, now deconsecrated, dedicated to the patron Saint of pets. Standing on this square you will see the Church of St. Vincent and the ex-Monastery of Saint Dominic (17th century); both of these buildings are part of the larger complex of the Bishop's Palace. The ex-Dominican Monastery is now home to the episcopal Seminary and has a beautiful cloister with stone columns. In front of the entrance to the Seminary you turn from via Cammarata into via Umberto I, where you will find the beautiful Palazzo Mandrascati, which has unfortunately been poorly altered and restored. You will also see the ex-Convent of St. Chiara, completely gutted in a haphazard attempt at restoration, as well as other interesting noble residence Piano Teatini Largo San Giovanni is overlooked by the façade of the 14th century Church of Saint John, with its lovely 18th century frescoes by the Flemish artist G. Borremans. Adjacent to this stands the Church of Saint Lawrence al Patrisanto, commonly called the Church of the Theatines. You can still see some remains of the primitive mediaeval structure in the side portal and in the ogival windows, similar to those in the beautiful church of St. Andre In Piazza Martiri d'Ungheria (formerly piano Padre Santo) you will see the Tower of the Holy Father, part of the mediaeval town walls. Nearby you can visit the 17th century Church of Saint Stephen and the Commendam of the Knights of Malta, built in the 12th century and now used for cultural events. Nearby you will find the Garibaldi Theatre, which dates from the early 1900s. St.Peter’s Soon after passing the monument dedicated to General A. Cascino, a First World War hero, you come to the 16th century Church of St. Peter, with a beautiful 18th century wooden coffered ceiling.
From Piazza Garibaldi to the Collegio |
