Church of San Leone in Aidone
Morgantia07 - CC1.0
The Basilica of San Leone in Aidone is an important place of worship in the village.
According to tradition, its foundation dates back to 1090, in the Norman era, and was dedicated to Pope San Leone II because he was born in Aidone. The terrible earthquake of 1693 razed the church to the ground, which was then rebuilt in 1796.
The gabled façade uses, in part, elements of the previous construction. It is enriched by a valuable Baroque-style portal formed by a round arch, flanked by two half columns with Corinthian-style capitals, which support an architrave with reliefs; in correspondence with the capitals there are two small cymatiums with two pine cones in relief. On the façade is the Latin inscription: Divo Leoni Papae Civi Patrono Populus Ajdonensis Basilicam Hanc Restituit, according to which Pope Leo II was born in Aidone.
The interior, with a single nave, has three chapels on each side.
Of particular value is the imposing organ case and its choir that dominates the wall behind the presbytery.
