The Church of Saint John the Baptist is the main place of worship in Aci Trezza and one of the village’s identity symbols. Built between 1691 and 1696 at the behest of the Riggio princes, the church was built after the devastating 1693 earthquake that struck eastern Sicily. The façade, sober and elegant, is made of local stone and recalls the canons of Sicilian Baroque: it is distinguished by its classical portal, two side bell towers, and the statue of St. John the Baptist placed at the top in 1900, which watches over the village and the sea.
The interior, divided into two naves with a semicircular apse and side chapels, holds a rich artistic and devotional heritage. Highlights include The Baptism of Jesus by painter Giacinto Platania, as well as canvases by Francesco Mancini and Matteo Desiderato, frescoes by Vincenzo Sciuto, and a rare organ from 1781, also attributed to Platania. Numerous wooden and plaster statues adorn the chapels and devotional points, testifying to the deep religiosity of the Trezzo community.
The church is also the centerpiece of celebrations in honor of the patron saint, St. John the Baptist, which are held every year in June with religious rites, processions, popular events, and the evocative theatrical performance “U Pisci a Mari.” A place that combines art, faith and tradition in the beating heart of Aci Trezza.