Marco Antonio Gussio was born in Nicosia and, in 1644, he was appointed bishop of Cefalù by Pope Urban VIII. He held this position until 1650, when he was transferred to Catania. He stayed there until 1660, the year of his death. Inside the cathedral, he carried out numerous renovations and stylistic refinements, enriching the structure with stucco and sculptural decorations, in vogue during the second half of the 17th century. The stuccoes and decorations on the front of the Bema date back to this period.
