Chiesa Madre Maria Santissima Assunta, Adrano

About

The Chiesa Madre (Mother Church), dedicated to Maria Santissima Assunta (Holiest Mary of the Assumption) is the largest Roman Catholic church in Adrano, and located in center of town, adjacent to the Norman Castle of the town, in the region of Sicily, Italy.

History and description: A church at the site was first commissioned in the 11th century by the initial Norman conquerors, specifically Roger II of Sicily, who would have been building the church adjacent to his Norman castle. The site was named Piano della Cuba, perhaps because it already housed a house of worship at this site. The layout of the present church is mainly due to works patronized by Duke Francesco II Moncada between 1572 and 1592. This led to the building of the nave with two aisles and two side chapels. In 1750 a dome was built, tiled on the outer surface with painted bricks. The façade is framed with dark lava stone pilasters. In the tympanum above the portal is a marble depiction of the Assumption of the Virgin. The side portals have lava stone jambs surmounted by a triangular tympanum in Baroque style. In front of the church are lava stone pillars that were meant to support at tall bell-tower, commissioned...