Dome Of Cathedral Collapses In Sicily

The frescoed dome of one of Sicily’s most treasured baroque cathedrals has collapsed, apparently weakened by two weeks of heavy rains.

No one was injured when the dome of St. Nicholas gave way Wednesday night.

The cave-in left a gaping hole in the middle of the church, and rubble from the fallen dome damaged several 18th century paintings.

The cathedral, built in the 18th century, also had been damaged by an earthquake that hit Noto in 1990.

Noto, near Syracuse in eastern Sicily, was rebuilt completely with baroque-style architecture after an earthquake destroyed the city in 1693.