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SAN GIOVANNI
 The
church of San Giovanni Evangelist,
from the characteristic bell tower of big ashlars made of squared stone,
rises on the big lava steps, slightly back from the roadbed of the Corso
Umberto.
Dedicated in San Giovanni Evangelist and to Santa Rosalia, had existed
since 1574, mentioned by Monsignor Torres in the "Liber
visitationis" during his pastoral visit in Bronte
("...Visitavit ecclesiam confraternitatis SS. Joannis Eveng.,
quam reperiit decenter ornatam...."). The two dates 1580-1799, sculpted
above the portal, probably show the dates of a first and a second
remaking.
The bell tower
built in 1614,
with a belfry in wrought iron and the characteristic battlement, chokes
the little architecture of the principal prospect of the church, from
the simple and linear drawing, and the fanlike characteristic flight of
steps in lava stone. The expressive language of the church shows up in the fineness and care
of the details about the forms of the lava portal, worked according to
moldings and ornaments by the able hands of the local stone cutting
masters. The massive size of the bell tower dominates it from above the
crenellated tower; the massive and squat form ends up in the top with a
prismatic volume to octagonal base. The lava stone blocks well squared and of big dimensions, are
interrupted by the high plinth and the jutting out frame of the belfry.
Three one light windows open at right on the frontal side.
The inside
 The inside,
in which the themes characteristic of the baroque taste are developed,
is divided into three parts:
 the
lobby with overhanging choristers area, from where one can
go to the stairs of the belfry;
the rectangular nave with a barrel vault,
the large anomalous and singular presbytery for shape and
dimension.
At the presbytery base two couple of columns surmounted by
an ornamental big arch, divide the niche of the major
altar surmounted in his turn by a baroque decorative
structure. |
noted
a Crucifix
of unknown author.
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