The Cathedral Church

The village of Mongiuffi Melia, placed between two promontories and immersed in a landscape dotted with green of olive trees and of citrus-fruits, was founded by Giuseppe Barrile who got the privilege of the marquisate in 1643 by Philip IV (1605-1665).

The countries of Mongiuffi, which also housed the settlements of Greek and Roman civilizations, for centuries have been considered by Taorminesi as their suburban territory, so they cultivated them and also built some farm-houses.

The Cathedral Church, already existent in 1500, is dedicated to St. Nicholas and it was rebuilt in 1702.

The portal shows the same style and the same shapes of the Cathedral of Taormina, so that it is probable that the two outside entries of the churches have been made by the same author.

The frontal gets in the upper part a magnificent architectonic ornament with a triangular space determinated by slopings of the roof and decorated with bas-reliefs.

The remade front is enriched with an ancient Latin inscription and gets on its side a very high bell-tower.

The church in 1743 showed a very beautiful and elegant altar made of stone and dedicated to Our Lady of Carmine. Now of the ancient piece of furniture keeps an important baptismal font, very simple and delineated in the shape and a rich holy water vessel on which stands out the noble coat-of-arms of the marquisate.