Monuments Sicily

Our Lady of the Port is located at the entrance to the Port of Messina, on the tower of Fort San Salvatore erected in 1546. The monument is 35 meters high and was built by engineer Francesco Barbaro. The Statue of the Madonna is a symbol of the city of Messina.

The Old Fish Market in Trapani is located in the narrowest part of the peninsula. A unique place where among the vendors who put fish at auction, there are also sailors with their huge hands and tanned skin sitting repairing fishing nets. The “abaniata” is used, the act of publicizing and making known the type of goods. It takes on a chanting and almost musical rhythm that makes the market tour even more fascinating.

Piazza IX Aprile initially known as Piazza Sant'Agostino, takes its name from the church that was located near it. In the square there are several important buildings, among them of great interest is the clock tower built in the twelfth century.

The Allegorical statue of Messina, was built in 1852, by Giuseppe Prinzi. The statue is located in the center of Largo Minitoli. Initially it was located inside the City Hall, following the restoration in 1967, it was placed on the current site. It is in white marble and in his right hand, he holds the decree by which Ferdinand II of Bourbon granted to the city of Messina Portofranco.

The Basilica of San Sebastiano was completed in 1644. The façade is built in Baroque style preceded by a balustrade crowned with statues. Inside you can visit the frescoes by Pietro Paolo Vasta and also the eighteenth-century danger for the procession of the saint.

The Staircase Santa Maria del Monte di Caltagirone was built in 1606 with the intent of connecting the ancient part of the city with the new upper part. The structure is over 130 meters long and since 1954 has been presenting decorations in the elevations of the steps and ceramic tiles by the Caltagironesi Artisanal Majolica. The staircase is illuminated during 24 and 25 July for the feast of St. James, patron saint of the city.

Arch raised in 1768 to celebrate the marriage of Ferdinand I and Marie Caroline of Austria.

Palazzo Guccione is the most important example of residential building of the last century in Alia, built in Art Nouveau style. This was erected in the highest and oldest part of the country, namely in the Rapatello district. The building is eclectic with strong references to Sicilian Liberty.

The feudal arches were built in the middle of the last century and their history is closely linked to the power of the Guccione family. In fact, in 1852, they had the arches built on a public road in order to connect their homes.

It can be considered a masterpiece of modern architecture, in many ways unique, the gigantic underground hangar by Pierluigi Nervi, still used for military purposes. On the occasion of Armed Forces Day, visitors can gain access to military installations through guided tours. Last date of opening 4 November 2009.

Right off the island of Panarea is located the ship wreck of Lisca Bianca, one of the vast ship wrecks that are located in the archipelago. While the other shipwrecks in the area are to deep to allow viewing this is one of the few wrecks where it is allowed to view on a sport dive because of its depth while the other wrecks in the area are far to deep to allow for such a dive, it is kept in a very bad state, even though its modern.

A few feet below the surface of the sea, near the rock visible from the island of Rabbits, you can admire the Madonna del Mare. It is a life-size statue that was donated to Lampedusa by a photographer who was saved while he was diving. Here you can dive even at night. The show is guaranteed.

The Cathedral of Sant'Antonio Abate, built in the 18th century, is distinguished by a facade in limestone worked very finely. The interior of the Duomo is luxuriously decorated with frescoes by local artists.

The Monumental Complex San Pietro di Marsala is located at the Monastery of the Benedictine Sisters and was founded in 595 after Christ. At the end of the 13th century, the church dedicated to St. Peter was added to the monastery. To be emphasized for its beauty is the square tower that thanks to a lighting system is made clearly visible from every corner of the historic center. The property also has a conference room, a multipurpose room and some leisure facilities.

The Cisternazza is a monumental complex consisting of a cistern, a garden, a beautiful portal and a raised courtyard. “A Cistirnazza “, as is said in Sicilian, was erected by the bishop of Catania Andrea Riggio in the 17th century. The cistern is about ten meters deep and has an octagonal opening.