The church of San Giovanni Battista stands in the quarter of the same name in Barcellona Pozzo di Gotto, which when it was built was the main core of Barcellona, a village of Castroreale until 15 May 1815. It was founded in 1635, enlarged between 1751 and 1754 by the priest Giovanni Salvo, who lengthened the nave, added the two bell towers and embellished the doorways, and consecrated in 1821; a parish since 1943, it has been a national monument since 1969. Unlike other churches in the area, it came through the earthquakes of 1783 and 1908 without serious damage.
What to see
The façade is framed by two square bell towers, with belfries under faceted onion domes, battlements with crosses and weather vanes and clock faces towards the side squares. The marble doorway takes the form of a temple pediment and holds in a niche the statue of Saint John the Baptist carved in 1754 by the local artist Melchiorre Greco, bearing his signature; on the lintel a plaque records the dedication of 1751. On the right side another niche holds the Sorrowing Virgin by the same Greco, also from 1754.
Inside, on the entrance wall, is the fresco of Jesus driving the merchants from the temple, with Saints Peter and Paul on either side of the door. Along the naves are chapels and niches with the processional statues of the Sacred Heart, the Ecce Homo and Saint Blaise, paintings such as the Baptism in the Jordan and the Presentation of the Baptist at Herod's court, and the altarpiece of the Death of Saint Joseph.
Visiting
The latest restoration was carried out between 1996 and 2000. The church stands between via Marconi and a small pedestrian square on via San Giovanni; mass times should be checked with the parish.
Our editors' tip
Nearby, today's piazza XIX Luglio was until the early twentieth century the herb market square, «û chianu î 'll'erba» in dialect, the commercial heart of the quarter.
