Art
Licata
Licata, a city with ancient origins, preserves traces of settlements from the Neolithic and evidence of Greek, Roman, Arab and Norman domination. Its coasts, dotted with watchtowers such as Torre San Nicola and dominated by the historic Rocca di Castel Sant'Angelo, tell of great battles, including the Punic ones, and of the Allied landing of 1943. The historic center fascinates with its baroque churches and Art Nouveau buildings, symbols of a city that intertwines history, art and tradition.
Castel of St. Angelo
Named after the Sant'Angelo hill, it is a rare example of a baroque fortress built in Sicily in the 17th century. The architectural complex has rigid forms, high thick walls with continuous battlements, built to defend the city from enemy attacks. Access to the fortress was permitted only by a drawbridge. Interesting archaeological evidence is preserved all around.
St. James Lighthouse
The Licata lighthouse, known as the "San Giacomo" lighthouse, is one of the highest in Europe built at sea level, with its 40 meters. Designed by Antonino Davanteri and completed in 1895, it takes its name from the ancient castle of San Giacomo, demolished for the construction of the port. Its light, visible up to 21 nautical miles, is a symbol of the city and a point of reference both for those arriving from Gela and for boats crossing the Mediterranean Sea.
Archaeological Museum
The Archaeological Museum of Licata, located in the sixteenth-century convent of Santa Maria del Soccorso, known as "Badia", tells of a city with an important role and at the center of the Mediterranean routes, inhabited since ancient times. This is demonstrated by statues, pottery, paintings and many precious archaeological finds. Divided into sections, the museum displays finds from prehistory to the Middle Ages, including Greek-archaic artefacts and medieval statues. The structure, expanded in the seventeenth century with a cloister, has housed the museum since 1995.
Museum of the Sea
The Museum is located in the heart of the historic center, inside the sixteenth-century cloister of Sant'Angelo. The structure houses a collection of archaeological finds recovered in the waters of Licata by the Superintendence of the Sea and the Finziade Archaeological Group, as well as objects donated by amateur fishermen and divers. Among the main exhibits, there are anchors and amphorae dating back to different historical periods, from the Bronze Age to the Greek and Roman periods.
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Grangela
Grangela is a pre-Hellenic hydraulic work located at the foot of Monte Sant'Angelo, a few steps from Piazza Progresso, with access from Via Marconi and Via Santa Maria. Initially composed of a well dug into the rock, 18 meters deep, the structure served for water supply. Over the centuries, the structure was modified, with the addition of four tunnels, although only one is still passable. Still functioning, the structure fascinates visitors, thanks to its history and its functionality that extends over time, offering a point of curiosity for those exploring the historic center of Licata.
Tholos
Tholos is an archaeological site about which little information is available.
The structure, with a truncated cone shape and a circular hole at the top, has given rise to two main hypotheses: one considers it the tomb of King Minos, the other a large silo for storing grain. Its location near the air raid shelters and the Grangela suggests a possible connection between these sites, with the destroyed part possibly containing tunnels.
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Church of St. Angelo
The Church of Sant'Angelo, dedicated to the patron saint of Licata, stands on the site where the Carmelite friar Sant'Angelo da Berengario was killed on 5 May 1220.
The church, which today presents itself in a Baroque style, has actually undergone several transformations over the centuries;
Its origins actually date back to the 12th century, when it was dedicated to Saints Philip and James, ancient patrons of Licata.
The current building was built between 1626 and 1662, after in 1625, thanks to the intercession of Saint Angelo for the liberation of the city from the plague, it was decided to build a new church in his honor.
Cathedral and Chapel of the Black Christ
The Mother Church of Licata houses the Chapel of the Black Christ, built after a wooden crucifix, dating back to the 15th century, was miraculously saved from the flames during the Turkish-French invasion of 1553. Although the Turks destroyed religious symbols, the crucifix remained blackened, giving rise to the legend. The chapel was decorated in Baroque style starting in 1635, with pure gold and inlays, and today the Mother Church is an important artistic and spiritual heritage of the city.
City Palace
The City palace, one of the symbols of Licata, stands in Piazza Progresso, built on two projects by Ernesto Basile, an exponent of Sicilian Liberty, between 1900 and the 1940s. Originally the seat of the Congregazione della Carità, it became the town hall in 1942. The building stands on the ruins of the church of SS. Trinità and houses valuable works, including Greek medallions, a 15th-century statue and the triptych in the council chamber. Historically significant, in 1943 it was the first Italian public building to house the English and American flags. The bell of the building inspired the book and film Una campana per Adano, winner of the Pulitzer Prize.
In the picturesque Marina district, among ancient streets steeped in Mediterranean atmosphere and enveloped by the enveloping smell of saltiness, a true open-air museum of street art is revealed.
The walls come to life with a multitude of works, each telling the unique story of this vibrant city.
Discover the incredible connection between Licata's past and the modern artistic expression that decorates its alleys.
Marina Street Art
