MacS | Museo Arte Contemporanea Sicilia - Catania Via Crociferi

The Museo Arte Contemporanea Sicilia, known as MacS, occupies the Badia Piccola of Catania's former Benedictine monastery on Via Crociferi. Contemporary artworks are displayed within a Baroque setting, bringing the city's historic architecture into dialogue with modern art.

Why it matters

MacS is a contemporary art museum within the Badia Piccola of the Monastero di San Benedetto, on a street defined by Catania's late-Baroque churches and convents. The museum's setting creates a striking contrast between the eighteenth-century complex and works by Italian and international artists.

What to notice

The museum's collection includes paintings and sculpture by artists from Sicily, Italy and abroad. The Badia Piccola's façade and its connection to the Badia Grande by the Arco di San Benedetto make the surrounding architecture part of the experience. The building is attributed to Giovanni Battista Vaccarini and forms part of the Baroque fabric of Via Crociferi.

Context and history

The former Benedictine complex comprises the Badia Grande and Badia Piccola, joined across Via Crociferi by the Arco di San Benedetto. Rebuilt in the late-Baroque period after the 1693 earthquake, the complex later became home to MacS, which presents contemporary art within this historic setting. The museum also offers educational programming alongside its exhibitions.