San Biagio, previously called Sant'Agata alla Fornace or ''La Fornace'' or ''Carcara'' is a

Neoclassical architecture Neoclassical architecture, sometimes referred to as Classical Revival architecture, is an architectural style produced by the Neoclassicism, Neoclassical movement that began in the mid-18th century in Italy, France and Germany. It became one of t ...

Roman Catholic The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics worldwide as of 2025. It is among the world's oldest and largest international institut ...

parish church located at the western edge of the Piazza Stesicoro in the quartiere San Biagio della Calcarella, of

Catania Catania (, , , Sicilian and ) is the second-largest municipality on Sicily, after Palermo, both by area and by population. Despite being the second city of the island, Catania is the center of the most densely populated Sicilian conurbation, wh ...

Sicily Sicily (Italian language, Italian and ), officially the Sicilian Region (), is an island in the central Mediterranean Sea, south of the Italian Peninsula in continental Europe and is one of the 20 regions of Italy, regions of Italy. With 4. ...

, southern

Italy Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe, Western Europe. It consists of Italian Peninsula, a peninsula that extends into the Mediterranean Sea, with the Alps on its northern land b ...

. The church overlooks a portion of the ruins of the former Ancient Roman amphitheater, while behind the apse in succession are two other churches dedicated in honor of St

Agatha of Sicily Agatha of Sicily () is a Christian saint. Her feast is on 5 February. Agatha was born in Catania, part of the Roman Province of Sicily, and was martyred . She is one of several virgin martyrs who are commemorated by name in the Canon of the Ma ...

: the church of Sant'Agata al Carcere and two blocks west facing the opposite direction is

Sant'Agata la Vetere Sant’Agata la Vetere is a Roman Catholic church located in the piazza of the same name (along via Santa Maddalena) in Catania, Sicily, southern Italy. East of church and nearby, but facing in the other direction, are two other churches dedicated ...

History and description

Originally there were two churches in this area, one dedicated in honor of St Blaise (Biagio) and a church putatively built atop the furnace from which St Agatha miraculously escaped. The church dedicated in honor of Sant'Agata had been here since the 11th-century. After the 1693 earthquake collapsed the prior structures, the present church building was commissioned and the two parishes joined.Comune of Catania
entry on church.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Biagio 18th-century Roman Catholic church buildings in Italy Roman Catholic churches in Catania