Originally a small church outside the city, it was called “of the vineyards” because of its location.
In the 16th century it was enlarged and two centuries later completely rebuilt by Antonio Bonaiuto from Syracuse,
making it the largest church in the city.
The second extension was completed in the second half of the 19th century by Giuseppe Failla.
Inside there are stuccoed walls, Rococo side altars, the Baroque-Rococo organ and some paintings of great value, including the Deposition, the Madonna with St. Joseph, St. Philip and an ancient Via Crucis.
The 16th-century statues of St. John, St. Joseph and Child, Mary Help of Christians and the Pity are made of papier-mâché.
The Church of San Giovanni Battista (St. John the Baptist) has a Latin cross floor plan with three naves and is surmounted by a very high dome.
The façade and the carved stone bell tower are in Baroque style.
