The Church of Santa Maria del Gesù
Descrizione
The Church of Santa Maria del Gesù, located in Modica Alta, was built between 1478 and 1481 as part of a Franciscan complex that also included the convent, completed by 1520. It is one of the most important and best-preserved examples of late Gothic architecture in Sicily. The church features an elegant Gothic-Catalan portal, a precious rose window pierced in stone and 16th-century frescoes decorating the interior walls. The adjoining cloister, with its harmonious colonnade and central well, recalls the ancient monastic spirit and offers a place for calm and reflection. A rare example of a building that survived the 1693 earthquake without serious damage, it has undergone careful restoration after decades of neglect. Today the church hosts cultural events and guided tours, establishing itself as one of Modica’s most significant places of historical and artistic memory.