The church of Santo Stefano, in Caltagirone, was built in 1761 together with the convent of Franciscan nuns to which it was attached, on the site of an earlier church. The design is attributed to the architect Francesco Battaglia. The work lasted about twenty years and the façade was left unfinished. In 1866, after the suppression of the convent, church and convent passed to the town council.
What to see
The plan is central, an irregular octagon, with side chapels and the choir above the entrance: a layout that has affinities with that of the nearby church of the Santissimo Salvatore.
Above the central space rises the lantern tower, which with its tower-like form dominates the whole volume and stands out among the houses despite the small size of the church.
Visiting
The church passed to the municipality in the nineteenth century: openings and visiting arrangements should be checked with Caltagirone town council.
Our editors' tip
Look up, beneath the roof of the lantern tower: there is a loggia with windows, made so that the nuns could see the town and the landscape.
