Cathedral of San Giuliano

The Cathedral of San Giuliano, or Cattedrale di San Giuliano in Italian, stands as the principal place of Catholic worship in Caltagirone, Sicily. This magnificent structure, which was elevated to the rank of minor basilica by Pope Pius XII in 1948, is a testament to the rich history and architectural evolution of the region. The basilica's elevation was celebrated with a solemn pontifical ceremony by Bishop Pietro Capizzi on January 27, 1949, during the liturgical feast of San Giuliano.

The Historical Journey of the Cathedral

The origins of the Cathedral of San Giuliano date back to the Norman-Aragonese era. Tradition holds that the original church was constructed in the Norman period, featuring a single nave adorned with Arab-Norman stuccoes and an apse facing east. The temple is dated to 1282, during the height of the Aragonese age, thanks to an inscription on the entrance architrave, which mentioned the architect Magister Gofredus. This date likely marks one of the first documented reconstructions of the church. Subsequent reconstructions occurred after the earthquakes in the Val di Noto in 1542 and 1693.

The Spanish Era and Rebuilding

The church was partially destroyed by the earthquake on November 30 and December 10, 1542. It was promptly restored, except for the top of the bell tower, which remained halved. In 1575, the Council of Jurors installed a clock on the tower. On April 23, 1582, the jurors decided to build a new, larger, and more beautiful temple on the same site, with the facade facing east. The responsibility was entrusted to the architect Francesco Zagarella from Ragusa, assisted by the Jesuit layman architect Giacomo Firini from Messina. The work began in 1598 but was prolonged to the point that a new project was commissioned to architect Simone Gullì in 1627.

The new church, built in a Latin cross layout with three naves, did not withstand the catastrophic earthquake of January 9 and 11, 1693, which devastated all of eastern Sicily. The ancient bell tower collapsed, the ceiling vaults crumbled, and the dome itself was destroyed.

The Bourbon Era and Architectural Transformation

The reconstruction in the current Tuscan style was entrusted to the architect Simone Mancuso from Agrigento, assisted by the Palermo builder and carver Giuseppe Montes. The ancient Norman church, which architect Gullì had preserved inside, was eliminated. New, higher white stone columns were used to support the vaults and the large dome. The new and elegant facade was built from the foundations up, with a superimposed bell tower with a trifora, completed in 1756. The floor was paved with white majolica tiles.

In the second half of the 18th century, two artistic stone portals designed by architect Natale Bonaiuto from Syracuse adorned the external walls. In 1773, as noted by an epigraph on one of the minor doors of the facade, the municipality replaced the clock, which had been placed on the central door, with a more accurate one funded by the public treasury for the benefit of the citizens.

In the early decades of the 19th century, under the direction of the first bishop, Monsignor Gaetano Trigona e Parisi, the interiors were stylistically revolutionized. All the Tuscan-style columns were incorporated into massive Corinthian-style pillars. The Palermo architect Emanuele Di Bartolo, along with stucco artists Gaetano Signorelli from Syracuse and Agostino Perez from Palermo, and painter and sculptor Giuseppe Vaccaro, was commissioned to design all the stucco decorations and paintings.

Under Monsignor Benedetto Denti, the marble cladding of the altar of the Madonna della Mercede, the white marble flooring, and the construction of a small wooden episcopal throne were carried out.

The Modern Era and the Cathedral's Significance

On September 12, 1816, Pope Pius VII, with the papal bull Romanus Pontifex, established the Diocese of Caltagirone and elevated the Church of San Giuliano to a cathedral. Simultaneously, the Collegiate Church of San Giacomo Maggiore was granted the title of minor basilica. The facade was designed by architect Saverio Fragapane between 1908 and 1913.

Architectural and Artistic Highlights

The cathedral's basilical layout is divided into three naves by pillars. The central nave's ceiling features a series of paintings by Giuseppe Vaccaro, depicting episodes from the Old and New Testaments, including the Sacrifice of Abel, Noah's Ark, and the Institution of the Eucharist, inspired by Leonardo da Vinci's Last Supper. The right transept arm illustrates the Destruction of the Temple of Jerusalem, while the left transept arm shows the Delivery of the Keys to the Apostle Peter. The presbytery vault depicts the foundational moment of the new cult: the Institution of the Eucharist.

The triumphal arch, adorned with a draped curtain, culminates in a fine stucco work representing the allegorical figure of Christian Religion, crowned with the triregnum and holding a Eucharistic monstrance and cross, accompanied by two putti.

Artworks by the Vaccaro Brothers

The cathedral houses several notable works by the Vaccaro brothers, including the 1855 oil painting Patronage of Saint James and the 1859 depiction of Jesus among the Doctors. Other significant pieces include Francesco Vaccaro's 19th-century paintings of Saint Gaetano distributing alms, Saint Philomena, and Mary Magdalene, as well as Giuseppe Vaccaro's terracotta Nativity scene inspired by Sicilian Baroque and the life-size wooden sculpture Dead Christ from 1850, used in the Good Friday procession.

Other Noteworthy Artworks

Among the cathedral's other treasures are a 16th-century black wooden Crucifix attributed to Messina artist Giovannello de' Matinati, a 16th-century marble Madonna della Mercede from the Gagini school, a 17th-century reliquary urn with a simulacrum of Blessed Lucia of Caltagirone, and a 1950 bronze Madonna by Ugo Tarchi. The 1960 monochrome ceramic Via Crucis by Calatino ceramist Gaetano Angelico and the 1936 oil painting of Saint Charles Borromeo in prayer by Giuseppe Barone, commissioned by Bishop Giovanni Bargiggia, are also notable additions.

The Cathedral of San Giuliano is more than just a place of worship; it is a living museum of art, history, and faith. Its walls and vaults echo the stories of centuries past, making it an unmissable destination for anyone visiting Caltagirone.