Chiesa Di San Nicolò L'arena
Chiesa Di San Nicolò L'arena
4.5
Historic SitesArchitectural BuildingsReligious SitesChurches & Cathedrals
9:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 1:00 PM
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Neighborhood: Centro Catania
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
256 reviews
Excellent
141
Very good
83
Average
22
Poor
5
Terrible
5
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phat_dawg_21
Alpharetta, GA16,977 contributions
Jun 2021
This church, only a few feet from the Monastery of San Benedettini, was undergoing some renovation but most of the art was still on display.
There was no fee when we entered.
This church, only a few feet from the Monastery of San Benedettini, was undergoing some renovation but most of the art was still on display.
There was no fee when we entered.
Beautiful altars
There was no fee when we entered.
This church, only a few feet from the Monastery of San Benedettini, was undergoing some renovation but most of the art was still on display.
There was no fee when we entered.
Beautiful altars
Written August 9, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
gilda b
1 contribution
May 2024 • Couples
The church is very scenic and contains many works of art. The totems where the different candles are explained are useful. But everything is neglected and dusty: dusty and threadbare altar cloths, dirty and messy chairs, flowers that have withered for months or are made of plastic (better nothing than those).
Fraternally, I find it difficult to think that we cannot find a group of volunteers who periodically clean the church. Order and cleanliness would significantly increase the charm of the church. Maybe mine is a professional bias because with a group of women we regularly clean the church in our town and always put fresh flowers. Seeing such a shabby place of worship hurts my heart because it is a sacred place and deserves maximum respect. With love
Fraternally, I find it difficult to think that we cannot find a group of volunteers who periodically clean the church. Order and cleanliness would significantly increase the charm of the church. Maybe mine is a professional bias because with a group of women we regularly clean the church in our town and always put fresh flowers. Seeing such a shabby place of worship hurts my heart because it is a sacred place and deserves maximum respect. With love
Written May 9, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Outofdodge_10
Santa Fe, NM1,342 contributions
Nov 2022 • Friends
I really loved the worn look of Chiesa di San Nicolo All'Arena and it's doubtful the facade will ever be completed. It was built in the late 1600's and, as with many buildings in Sicily, took a hit from an earthquake. It was reconstructed in 1735. There is an adjoining Benedictine Monastery (Monastery di San Nicolò l'Arena) that holds the title of the second largest monastery in Europe. The interior includes a sundial and organ. I especially enjoyed the wide columns. And climb to the top so you have a panoramic view.
Written October 28, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Aristofane
Roma21,511 contributions
Feb 2024 • Solo
San Nicolò all'Arena, the church adjacent to the colossal Benedictine monastic complex, repeats the grandeur of the latter in size (it is the largest building of worship in Catania and probably in Sicily) but not in the opulence of the decoration. In fact, in San Nicolò the most notable features are the unfinished façade with several severed columns, and inside a very vast space but, singularly for a Baroque church, almost completely bare except for the gigantic organ, in which the white of the walls seems to dominate everything .
The church itself is certainly worth a visit, and lends itself to being combined with the Benedictine monastery (from the eastern cloister of the monastery, moreover, you can best see the dome of the church), but the most interesting element perhaps it is given by the collection of "candelore", complex structures intended to support the candles during religious festivals and in particular the patron saint of Sant'Agata. I cannot say whether they are hosted in San Nicolò l'Arena only temporarily, but they are certainly particularly evocative works of art, halfway between the cultured and the popular and very important in the culture of the city of Catania.
The church itself is certainly worth a visit, and lends itself to being combined with the Benedictine monastery (from the eastern cloister of the monastery, moreover, you can best see the dome of the church), but the most interesting element perhaps it is given by the collection of "candelore", complex structures intended to support the candles during religious festivals and in particular the patron saint of Sant'Agata. I cannot say whether they are hosted in San Nicolò l'Arena only temporarily, but they are certainly particularly evocative works of art, halfway between the cultured and the popular and very important in the culture of the city of Catania.
Written March 25, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ram88doc
Navarre, FL346 contributions
Aug 2023 • Couples
This is one of the biggest churches in Sicily. It is a bit unimpressive on the outside since the facade was never finished. The inside has a massive organ and a sundial. Entry is free. We chose not to go to the roof but you can for 3 euros per person. Well worth a visit.
Written September 8, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Zsófia K
Gyor, Hungary122 contributions
Apr 2022 • Couples
It is a very nice chuecklh although it does not seems so outside. It is simple, but nice. You can see not just paintings but a astronomical line where the light shows the dates. You can climb up to the tower too. And in summer it is super cool inside.
Written April 24, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Matthew P
London, UK6,288 contributions
Jul 2024 • Couples
Not a lot to see inside, the best part is you can walk around the top. The price is 3 euros each, worth it for the view. One way up and the same down. Not for the faint hearted. It is 126 steps up approx. If my counting was correct.
Written July 1, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Florian254
Norddeutschland1,416 contributions
Oct 2021
Well it certainly is an impressive church and large as well but imo somewhat uninspiring. Maybe this has to do with the wagons on display or the large unfilled space and the lack of real decoration but the only impressive and interesting part was the sunblock. Other wise, well, just large.
Written December 29, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
LondonDolcevita
London120 contributions
May 2012 • Family
Combine with a free guided tour around the adjacent former Benedictine monastery, now part of Catania University and an undiscovered gem!
Written July 15, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ZCC414
Sevenoaks, UK215 contributions
Sep 2019 • Friends
This church used to be part of the Monastery and it it’s heyday must have been spectacular- it was on the grand tour route.
It has 8 knaves!
As the monks lived more like princes in this monastery it has some unusual features - a mosaic of the signs of the zodiac in the floor.
I found it a very peaceful building and on a clear day you would have an amazing view over the town and up to Mount Etna.
There are some really moving war memorials in some of the side chapels.
It is free to go into the Church on the ground floor level.
It has 8 knaves!
As the monks lived more like princes in this monastery it has some unusual features - a mosaic of the signs of the zodiac in the floor.
I found it a very peaceful building and on a clear day you would have an amazing view over the town and up to Mount Etna.
There are some really moving war memorials in some of the side chapels.
It is free to go into the Church on the ground floor level.
Written October 15, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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