Chiesa della Madonna del Carmine

The Church of Madonna del Carmine in Lentini is an eighteenth-century hall church associated with the former Carmelite convent. Its simple exterior contrasts with an interior that preserves older paintings, a sixteenth-century marble baptismal font and a statue of the Madonna del Carmine.

Why it matters

The church and convent preserve the history of Lentini’s religious orders and the later civic reuse of their buildings. The attached convent now houses municipal offices, while the church retains its furnishings and devotional art.

What to notice

The church has a single nave with original paving and a stone bell tower carrying three bells. Seven large canvases line the walls, including two restored with support from the Archeoclub di Lentini. Near the entrance is a holy-water font made from a reused column capital. The marble baptismal font bears the date 1589, predating the present church. A crucifix and a statue of the Madonna del Carmine in a decorated niche complete the interior furnishings.

Context and history

The Carmelite presence in Lentini predates the earthquake of 1693; the convent was rebuilt near the present church after the disaster. Following the nineteenth-century suppression of religious orders, the convent church was closed and used as a municipal warehouse. In 1927, Canon Alfio Sferrazzo obtained permission for it to return to devotional use. The church is dated to the eighteenth century, while its furnishings include works from earlier periods.