The Monastery of San Nicolò l'Arena in Catania, Sicily is a former Benedictine monastery, located on Piazza Dante 30 in the city of Catania, region of Sicily, Italy. After the Mafra, this abbey is the second largest Benedictine monastery in Europe. It is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site[1] (as a part of Val di Noto World Heritage Site), and houses the Department of Humanities of the University of Catania.
Facade of the Monastery of San Nicolò l'Arena.
History and DescriptionEdit
The Marble Cloister corresponds to the original square plan of the monastery founded in 1558
The monastery was founded in 1558.[2] Dedicated to San Nicola di Bari, the suffix of Arena (sand) derived from the volcanic sand present in the area.
Catania and the monastery surrounded by the lava during the 1669 eruption in Giacinto Platania's fresco.
The monastery complex is located in the historical centre of the city of Catania, alongside the church of San Nicolò l'Arena. The structure integrates architectural styles from various centuries. Although founded in the 16th century, two natural disasters in the 17th century required major reconstruction. The 1669 Etna eruption surrounded the city of Catania with lava, widening the coast for more than 1 km, and the lands of the monastery too. While the monastery was not destroyed by the lava, the surrounding azquired a level of lava stone 12 meters high. The 1693 Sicily earthquake, also called the Val di Noto earthquake, and the following tsunami ravaged the entire east coast of Sicily and Catania. Like nearly the entire city, the monastery was nearly razed and the only the basement floors survived.
In 1702 the rebuilding started and lasted until 1866 (when the new Reign of Italy confiscated the monastery). The present monastery was rebuilt atop the original structure, with an added new cloister (the eastern cloister) and a new area (the large part designed by Giovanni Battista Vaccarini) on the top of the lava bench.
"Red Hall" - Antonino Leonardi
In 1977 the monastery was donated to the University of Catania, which restored the entire structure; in 1984 Giancarlo De Carlo started to design the entire restoration work.
ReferencesEdit
^"Monastero dei Benedettini, Catania". www.monasterodeibenedettini.it. Retrieved 2015-06-22.
^"History - Monastero dei Benedettini, Catania". www.monasterodeibenedettini.it. Retrieved 2015-06-22.
External linksEdit
Media related to Monastery of San Nicolò l'Arena at Wikimedia Commons
monastery, nicolò, arena, catania, sicily, former, benedictine, monastery, located, piazza, dante, city, catania, region, sicily, italy, after, mafra, this, abbey, second, largest, benedictine, monastery, europe, unesco, world, heritage, site, part, noto, worl. The Monastery of San Nicolo l Arena in Catania Sicily is a former Benedictine monastery located on Piazza Dante 30 in the city of Catania region of Sicily Italy After the Mafra this abbey is the second largest Benedictine monastery in Europe It is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site 1 as a part of Val di Noto World Heritage Site and houses the Department of Humanities of the University of Catania Facade of the Monastery of San Nicolo l Arena History and Description Edit nbsp The Marble Cloister corresponds to the original square plan of the monastery founded in 1558The monastery was founded in 1558 2 Dedicated to San Nicola di Bari the suffix of Arena sand derived from the volcanic sand present in the area nbsp Catania and the monastery surrounded by the lava during the 1669 eruption in Giacinto Platania s fresco The monastery complex is located in the historical centre of the city of Catania alongside the church of San Nicolo l Arena The structure integrates architectural styles from various centuries Although founded in the 16th century two natural disasters in the 17th century required major reconstruction The 1669 Etna eruption surrounded the city of Catania with lava widening the coast for more than 1 km and the lands of the monastery too While the monastery was not destroyed by the lava the surrounding azquired a level of lava stone 12 meters high The 1693 Sicily earthquake also called the Val di Noto earthquake and the following tsunami ravaged the entire east coast of Sicily and Catania Like nearly the entire city the monastery was nearly razed and the only the basement floors survived In 1702 the rebuilding started and lasted until 1866 when the new Reign of Italy confiscated the monastery The present monastery was rebuilt atop the original structure with an added new cloister the eastern cloister and a new area the large part designed by Giovanni Battista Vaccarini on the top of the lava bench nbsp Red Hall Antonino LeonardiIn 1977 the monastery was donated to the University of Catania which restored the entire structure in 1984 Giancarlo De Carlo started to design the entire restoration work References Edit Monastero dei Benedettini Catania www monasterodeibenedettini it Retrieved 2015 06 22 History Monastero dei Benedettini Catania www monasterodeibenedettini it Retrieved 2015 06 22 External links Edit nbsp Media related to Monastery of San Nicolo l Arena at Wikimedia Commons Portals nbsp Politics nbsp Environment nbsp Society 37 30 15 N 15 04 47 E 37 5042 N 15 0797 E 37 5042 15 0797 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Monastery of San Nicolo l 27Arena amp oldid 1124513355, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
