Chiesa della Veterana

In the heart of Nicastro stands the Chiesa della Veterana, a medieval church considered the oldest in the city and now a subsidiary of the parish of Santo Teodoro. Its name, meaning ‘the ancient one’, hints at its long history. After restoration, the church measures fifteen metres deep and nine metres wide, with a sacristy behind and a staircase leading to a small upper room.

Inside, the visitor finds a handful of notable works. A canvas shows the Madonna flanked by San Domenico and Sant’Eligio, the latter known locally as Sant’Aloi and invoked as protector of donkeys, once numerous in Santo Teodoro. Another, smaller painting depicts the Madonna with a kneeling princess, a very old work in fine condition. Above a decaying baroque altar once hung an altarpiece of the Madonna delle Grazie with San Luca and Santo Stefano. A good ceiling painting also survives. These remnants speak of a modest but layered devotional life, preserved in the quiet of a very old church.

Description via source. Coordinates and heritage data from the Atika atlas.