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HISTORICAL OUTLINE OF THE CHURCH OF THE MOST HOLY CRUCIFIX OF PIAZZA ARMERINA

Church of the most Holy crucifix of Piazza Armerina in Sicily in SiciliaL is building the Church of the most Holy Crucifix began in 1720 to the need to replace the one dedicated to Saint Sunday, threatened by impending doom because too close to the slope (a còsta) southwest of the old town.
This church, which existed since the 16th century. among today's via Santoro and via Campagna San Martino, already had a Fraternity with its same name replaced with that of the miraculous crucifix that housed in a chapel inside by the early 17th century.

The crucifix, carved by master Antonio Cultrera, always a place of pilgrimage, before it was hosted on the altar of wood to the left of the main entrance of the Church of St. Nicholas of Bari, from 1651 entitled to the Madonna della Catena. In 1675 Veronica C Baron Malpertuso ¹ ¹ established and San Basilio, bequeathed, a College of 12 canons directed by a Provost, will then be implemented in 1698. Next, the Chapter grew with 38 Prebendati, 18 canons and 17 Priests. The demolition of the Church in ruins and the construction of the new on a plain further upstream, were carried out between 1720 and 1785, thanks to the will of Paul Trigona Macdonald Baron of Casalotto ². In 1777 the components of the Collegiate Church of the most Holy Crucifix reached number of 39 between Dignity, canons and secondary.

In 1813, on the Sunday after Easter, a fire destroyed the main altar and crucifix, but the devotion of the whole people in 6 months they repaired the damage, as we are reminded by the inscription in the Church. After the erection of the Diocese of Piazza in 1817, in the Church of the crucifix stood the collegiate church, before the new diocese.
For this reason and for the Christian fervor of the people, always alive during Lent and Holy week, Bishop Mons. Sturzo (1861-1941) erected in 1934 as a parish that, then, consisted of ca. 3,000 souls.

¹ in addition to these estates, near Nicosia (EN), Baron Matthew owned quelli di Sabuci, in the territory of Lentini and Francofonte.

² Limuni, actually the full name of the noble-benefactor was Peter Paul Freiherr von Casalotto and Sadique and it was the third son of Francis Tan Miccichè Baron of Spedalotto and Cugno married Rosalia (Mary?) Macdonald, Baroness of ladder and Casalotto from C.