Sicilian Baroque is a distinctive form of Baroque architecture in Sicily, which flourished after a massive earthquake in 1693 destroyed at least 45 towns in south-eastern Sicily, among them Catania, Ragusa, Modica, Scicli and Ispica. Rebuilding began almost immediately; local architects, many of whom had trained in Rome, were inspired to recreate the sophisticated Baroque architecture that had become popular on the mainland, influencing in turn other local architects.
Sicilian Baroque style is recognizable not only by its typical Baroque curves and flourishes, but also by its grinning masks and putti (sacred cherubs, depicted as chubby male children). At the time, Sicily was part of the Spanish Empire, and the lavishness of the architecture was connected with the local politics at the time; rule of the region was effectively delegated to the native aristocracy.
