Church of Santo Stefano - Byzantine Tricora in Santa Venerina
The Church of Santo Stefano in Santa Venerina, also known as Cella Trichora or Byzantine Tricora, is an ancient church, now reduced to ruins, located in Dagala del Re, in the territory of Santa Venerina.
The date of construction of the building but it is believed to have been built during the Byzantine period, presumably towards the end of the 9th century, by Basilian monks. Following some studies conducted on the wall structure, it was found that the narthex, i.e. the space between the naves and the main facade of the church, has disproportionate dimensions compared to the structure and for this reason it is believed to have been added in a later period, probably following the resumption of monastic activity, which occurred around the 12th century, after the period of Arab domination. It has also been hypothesized that the structure was abandoned at the end of the 13th century, following the eruption of 1284 which surrounded and isolated the church, without however destroying it.
The ruins were discovered by Stefano Bottari during the Second World War, but only recently the monument was acquired in the municipal heritage and a conservative recovery was started.
It is a church from the Byzantine era with a central plan. Inside there is a trilobed choir, i.e. made up of three apses, with the central apse being larger. The ceiling, now completely collapsed, is believed, with reference to the contemporary Byzantine structures present in Sicily, to have been made up of a large central domed vault.
