Catania - San Nicolò l'Arena

Sicily, the largest Mediterranean island, has a long history, that starts around 8000 BC, but later there were Phoenician, Carthaginian, Greek and Roman periods. After the Roman Empire had fallen apart the Vandals tried to take over the island but failed. Finally, the Ostrogoths took possession.

Mid of the 6th century Sicily was conquered by troops of the Byzantine Empire. After the advent of Islam, Sicily got attacked by the Arab forces. Raids seeking loot continued until the mid-8th century.

A Muslim army was sent to the island in 827 but met with much resistance. So it took a century to conquer it and even later revolts constantly occurred

In 1038 the Byzantines invaded the island supported by Norman mercenaries, led by Roger. In 1072, after the siege of Palermo, most of Sicily was under Norman control. Roger´s son Roger II raised the status +of the island to a kingdom in 1130. During this period, the Kingdom of Sicily was prosperous and powerful,

The court of Roger II became melting out of culture from Europe and the Middle East. This attracted scholars, scientists, artists, and artisans. Muslims, Jews, Greeks, Lombards, and Normans cooperated and created some extraordinary buildings.

In 1186 the last descendant of Roger, Constance of Sicily married Emperor Henry VI, the second son of Barbarossa. So the crown of Sicily was passed on to the Hohenstaufen Dynasty. Frederick II, the only son of Constance, was crowned King of Sicily at the age of four in 1198. He became "Stupor Mundi", one of the greatest and most cultured men of the Middle Ages.

-
San Nicolò l'Arena was the abbey church of the former Benedictine Monastery of San Nicolò l'Arena. Originally, the Benedictines had built there a chapel and a monastery near the Mount Etna and lived there since the 12th century.

An eruption forced them, to give up the location and to build the monastery in the centre of Catania from 1558 on. The monstery became one of the largest monastic complexes in Europe. In 1669 the lava flow reached the monastery again and destroyed the church. After the 1693 earthquake, the monastery was severely damaged. The only floor that survived was the basement.

In 1702 the rebuilding started and lasted until 1866 but was never finished. In 1977 the buildings of the monastery were given to the University of Catania.