Among the countless wonders that the village of Buccheri, in the province of Syracuse, can offer its visitors, the Church of Sant’Antonio Abate represents an authentic pearl of Sicilian Baroque. Built in the aftermath of the terrible 1693 earthquake that devastated the whole of southeastern Sicily, this magnificent church is located at the end of a majestic scenic staircase of about 130 steps, inaugurated in 1911.

Art and history in the Church of Sant’Antonio Abate
Inside the Church of Sant’Antonio Abate, devotion and art come together in a harmonious symbiosis that is manifested through the works of the masters who have helped to embellish this place of worship over the centuries. Prominent among the statues that enrich the sacred edifice are that of St. Anthony Abbot, the work of Bucher sculptor Michelangelo Di Giacomo, and those of St. Vitus and Our Lady of Providence.

But the church is not only a place of worship where the figures of the saints are venerated; it is also a space where pictorial art finds important expression. Indeed, two paintings by the famous painter Guglielmo Borremans, “St. Anthony in Ecstasy” and “St. Vitus with Saints Modest and Crescence,” are preserved inside the building, further enriching the artistic heritage of this Baroque church.

Another notable work of art in the Church of Sant’Antonio Abate is the so-called “casciarizzu,” a valuable walnut woodwork commissioned from master Salesio Laganà of Militello in the 1700s. This architectural element adds a touch of refinement and craftsmanship to the already splendid religious environment.