The church annexed to the ancient convent of the Franciscan Order of the Capuchin Minors is dedicated to St. Mary of Odigitria.
It survived the earthquake that devastated the southeastern area of Sicily in 1693. In the apse, there is a large wooden “machine” with a 17th-century canvas by the Florentine painter Filippo Paladini, depicting the Madonna of Odigitria in the centre.
The monastic complex houses a museum with valuable religious artifacts and an art gallery featuring works by various authors from the 17th and 18th centuries.
Additionally, the crypt of the Capuchin Church contains a permanent monumental nativity scene depicting the History of Salvation through terracotta sculptures.
Inside the church’s innermost part, there is a valuable silk replica of the Holy Shroud.
This was donated by the Savoys to the Venerable Father Innocenzo Marcinò da Caltagirone (1589-1655), who was the General of the Order.
His mortal remains are interred within the convent.
