Church of "San Giovanni Battista"

The parish of San Giovanni was established on May 31, 1942. But we have to go back to 1926, when Don Ciccino Gugliotta, the first parish priest of San Giovanni, established the association “Vita e Pensiero”, of which a very young Giorgio La Pira was a member, and a few years later the “San Tarcisio” club, building a first building.
Subsequently, the church was enlarged around the 1960s, always with the parish priest Don Ciccino and the assistant priest Don Sebastiano Palumbo.
During the expansion of the church, religious functions and events took place at the Salatore di Pozzallo, where until shortly before the famous salted sardines were made. San Giovanni in Pozzallo was celebrated for the first time, with great participation by the people of Pozzallo on June 24, 1925, and just like today it lasted a week.
The original statue of the saint, made of plaster, was made and donated by the grandfather of the photographers Assenza, replaced in 1973 by another (the current one), because over time the first one had deteriorated.
Starting in 1987, during the celebrations for the Saint, it was decided to take the statue to the sea, on board a ship. Every year, since that June of 1987, the "procession to the sea" has been repeated, strongly desired by Don Sebastiano Palumbo.
The church is located in via San Giovanni and is a new construction. It has a modern appearance with a façade with three porticoes. The Latin cross interior is illuminated by stained glass mosaic windows and wrought iron chandeliers. The central chapel features an imposing altarpiece by Valente Assenza depicting various episodes from the life of San Giovanni. The statue of San Giovanni, the work of the sculptor Herber Comploj, is located to the right of the High Altar. With a decree dated June 19, 1968, Paul VI reconfirmed San Giovanni as the "Patron" of the city together with Our Lady of the Rosary.