Catania, Sicily Italy
[Roman Catholic]
The Benedictine Monastery of St Nicholas was established on the slope of the Atna in the 12th century. Following a volcanic eruption, the monastery relocated here and rebuilding began 1558. A lava flow again destroyed the church in 1669. Reconstruction began again in 1687 and was ended by an earthquake in 1693. Building resumed in 1780 and, again, was never finished. The church and monastery are now part of the University of Catania, housing the college of literature and the library.