Chapel of the Calvary

The tradition of Mount Calvary in Siculiana dates back to the first half of the seventeenth century, following the actions of the missionary Father Luigi La Nuzza of the Society of Jesus. 

The first Calvary was most likely situated on the plateau also known as “Mizio’s hillock”. It was relocated to its current location in 1835. Fourteen, no longer existing, small chapels of the Way of the Cross contributed to a certain decorum together with the chapel that was built at the base of the Cross. 

Between 1840 and 1883, as a result of strong winds, the cross was torn down and rebuilt at least four times. In 1884 the building of a new chapel began, but in 1892 the wind returned to destroy the cross that was later reconstructed in Porto Empedocle in 1895. This last one had to be knocked down in 1910 as it was deemed unsafe. The current robust iron cross was built by Antonino Gagliano in 1925 and was financed by the town citizens. In 2003 the chapel was again torn down and rebuilt.