Santa Barbara Parish Complex in Licata Opens as Contemporary 'Campus of Faith'

The Santa Barbara Parish Complex in Licata, Italy, has just been completed, thanks to architects Francesco Lipari, Lillo Giglia, and Giuseppe Conti. This project came about through a two-phase competition held by the Archdiocese of Agrigento and the parish, funded by the Italian Episcopal Conference’s ‘8xmille’ program. Located in the growing Oltreponte area on a previously unused parking lot, the complex includes a church, a churchyard, a weekday chapel, pastoral spaces, classrooms for catechism, and a rectory. Its design showcases Mediterranean and Sicilian influences, featuring a flowing roof, curved concrete walls, a cylindrical bell tower, and a striking golden entrance. The churchyard serves as a public square, integrating the complex with the local community. The project began in 2016, involving fifteen invited teams, nine proposals, and three finalists, while emphasizing community engagement alongside the parish and the Archdiocese of Agrigento. Overall, the complex covers 5,700 sqm, with the church itself occupying 963 sqm.