Church of Sant'Antonio Abate

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Discover more about the medieval origins of Sant'Antonio Abate, its unusual two-nave layout and the changes that transformed the church during its long history.

A medieval parish church

The precise foundation date of Sant'Antonio Abate is unknown. In his book on Erice, author Matteo Tusa records that the church already existed in 1298, providing a firm documentary date for its medieval history.

Sant'Antonio subsequently became one of the four historic parish churches of Erice, alongside the Chiesa Matrice, San Giuliano and San Cataldo. Its location lies within the western part of the medieval town, a short distance from Porta Spada and the ancient city walls.

Surviving early architectural features include the pointed arch of the entrance. The small bell gable on the façade preserves the profile of an earlier structure, although it has subsequently been reconstructed.

The second nave

Sant'Antonio was originally a single-nave church. Tusa dates a major enlargement to 1541, when a second nave was constructed alongside the existing building and separated from it by Tuscan columns.

The resulting two-nave plan is unusual among the churches of Erice. A similar arrangement is found nearby at Sant'Orsola, although the surviving evidence does not establish that the two churches developed in the same way.

Closure and later alterations

Tusa records that the number of parishioners declined as the surrounding neighbourhood was progressively abandoned. The church eventually passed into the possession of the episcopal curia of Trapani and was closed to worship in the early 20th century.

Following a period of neglect, the building was adapted for use as a colonia estiva, or summer residential institution. The conversion included the addition of an upper floor and substantially altered the appearance of the exterior and the historic two-nave interior.

The church was later restored and reopened in 2015.

Rediscovered frescoes

The alterations also led to the discovery of previously concealed wall paintings. Tusa records that the removal of plaster from parts of the church exposed 15th-century frescoes, which he describes as late Byzantine in character.

At least one of these paintings was saved and transferred to the Museo Regionale Agostino Pepoli in Trapani. Its discovery provides evidence of the decoration of Sant'Antonio before the addition of the second nave in 1541.