Since prehistoric times, many caves, between Lentini and Carlentini, were enlarged and used as homes or worship places, among them the Rupestrian Church of the Crucifix.

Located on the site of the ancient Greek town of Leontìnoi, the church sits on the northern slopes of the Metapiccola Hill, overlooking the Cava Ruccia, looking at the Etna volcano. The Greek town was replaced by a medieval one, to which the Federician castle (Castrum Vetus) dates back.

Although today situated in a rural environment, the Cave was its religious core. To 1693 is dated the construction of the monastery, which is placed on the rupestrian asset, today reduced to ruin; at the same year is dated the abandonment of the medieval town, as a consequence of a disastrous earthquake.

Artificially excavated and shaped, the Church has suffered many changes over time. Through the portal dated 1764, you get into the original square area (m7x7), the Oratorium Populi, decorated with several layers of fresco often overlaid, dated between the 12th and 17th century.

The altar is located in a little apse with an ogival arch facing East. A second wider space was excavated and connected to the first one between the 16th and 17th century, in order to enlarge the space for worship.

To the south of the Oratorium Populi, there are an underground putridarium – that is a funerary chapel - and, dug into the back wall, the pertaining ossuaries. Getting into the cave, there are two other rooms: one very large, has a second hypogeum, perhaps an ossuary; the other one, smaller, has decorations. The expansion of the site has caused the partial destruction of some frescoes. The actual architectural layout is, therefore, the result of centuries of remaking and expansions, due to the need of accommodating the spaces to the requirements of each period.