Alì Superiore is a town in the province of Messina which is located on the Sant'Elena hill, in the Peloritani mountain complex, about 500 meters above sea level.
It is a very pretty village, which offers many interesting places to visit but above all it has a particular history, which has roots in a distant time.
Here is the story of Alì Superiore and what not to miss during a visit to the village.
The ancient age of Ali Superiore
All the information relating to Alì Superiore is found in a writing which dates back to 1754 and has the title "On the History of Alì and its territory", written by Fra' Serafino d'Alì, which recounts the origins of the village and its history up to that date, particularly of the medieval period.
According to this text, the town was founded by Greek exiles in 638 BC, first on the coast, then to avoid pirate incursions it was moved higher up, on the slopes of Monte Scuderi. However, this location would not have proved suitable due to exposure to bad weather, so it was decided to move it to its current location. In this new location the town prospered under the guidance of the city of Messina but with the Punic wars of 250 BC the town was destroyed by the Syracusans and little news is available of the subsequent era, in particular that under the domination of the Romans.
The medieval age of Upper Ali
The writing resumes its story from 1093, when Roger I, King of Sicily, decided to donate the territory of Alì and that of Itala to the Basilian monks who lived in the monastery dedicated to Peter and Paul. For this reason Ali became the property of the church and under this leadership it prospered considerably in the following centuries.
During the XNUMXth century, Ali was the center of trade routes as on its territory was cultivated The trees e and they extracted minerals Of every kind. Thanks to the wealth of the population, in this same period the funds for the construction of the building were found Duomo, dated 1565, as well as of Convent of the Capuchins, built in 1574. Excellent relations between the town and Messina, which offered its protection in exchange for commercial benefits.
The modern and contemporary age of Ali Superiore
In 1674, however, the city of Messina revolted against Spanish domination and for this reason Ali remained faithful to the Iberian kingdom, for which the people of Messina proceeded to devastate the village as punishment for the betrayal.
The town never fully recovered from this hard blow, and a few centuries later a terrible earthquake added to the devastation: in 1783 a violent tremor razed almost half the town to the ground. The town found the strength to recover but the inhabitants preferred to move further down the valley, giving rise to Marina di Ali.
When feudalism was abolished in 1812, the territory of Ali regained its freedom and was able to form a municipality. In 1910 Marina di Alì managed to officially separate from the rest of the country, becoming the municipality of Alì Terme while the old town adopted the unofficial name of to distinguish itself Ali Superior.
What to see in Ali Superiore
There are many things that can be admired in Ali Superiore. One of the most interesting buildings is certainly represented by Church of the Most Holy Rosary which is located in the highest part of the town and was built in 1624 at the behest of the Fama family. However, it is older Church of the Holy Spirit, which dates back to 1445: in its structure there is a circular window from the medieval era which suggests it was built on a previous church. The Convent of the Capuchins, however, was built in 1574 but in 1589 its surface was enlarged to make room for numerous annexed chapels. From the point of view of civil architecture, there are two buildings of great value: the first is the Palazzo Maggiore, created between the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries; the second is instead that of Fama family, from the same era, which stands out for its style typically inspired by Michelangelo's mannerism.
How to get to Ali Superiore
Those who wish to reach Alì Superiore to discover its history more closely will be able to do so by leaving by car from Messina and along the SS114.
Those coming from Palermo, however, will have to choose the A20 first and then continue on the E90, just like those leaving from Trapani. From Syracuse the reference road is the E45 while from Catania you must follow the A18 first and then the E45. Finally from Enna the indicated road is the A19 and then the E932.
Alì also has one of its own railway station which is located on the line that connects Messina to Syracuse, and is also served by the lines of bus numbers premises of the public company AST.
