Following the great earthquake of 1693 which caused death and ruin, the city was divided between the “San Giovannari“, for the patron saint St. John and the “San Giorgiari“, for the patron saint St. George.
The two factions were both intent on dedicating a new church to their respective patron saint.
The followers of St. George entrusted the work to the greatest figure of Sicilian architecture of the period, Rosario Gagliardi, so that their church would be the most majestic.
