Chiesa di San Nicolo

About

First built in the 13th century, the Chiesa di San Nicolo has received two major restorations, most recently in the early 18th century after it was damaged by an earthquake, that have affected its original Byzantine appearance. While it might not have its Byzantine frescoes, the church interior is filled with precious 16th and 17th century artwork, including a statue of St. Lucia crafted from silver. Between its founding in the Middle Ages and the 19th century, local commoners were interred in the church yard and its crypts, making it a site of great socio-historic importance. The church’s serene churchyard and the building’s distinctive crenellated facade create such an idyllic Sicilian setting that it was used for the wedding scene in The Godfather.