Church of San Sebastiano in Pagliara

Pagliara it is perched halfway up the hill and its history dates back to the ancient Romans at the time of their domination. The real agglomeration of houses, however, developed around the year one thousand when some shepherds looking for a territory with a mild climate, left the then farmhouse of Nisi stopping in the bed of the Santa Caterina stream which today is called Pagliara, where they put up some simple ones houses made of branches and straw precisely called, straw.

History of the Church of Pagliara

La Pagliaro church it was built on the opposite bank of the town so that to reach it it is necessary to cross the river. Legend says that this historic temple was built during theVIII century by some Greek monks who escaped the iconoclastic persecution originating from the edict issued by Emperor Leo III known as the Isaurian in 730. This interpretation is combined with a legend which narrates that the canvas depicting the Our Lady of Polymena which was initially inside a house owned by a rich family ended up in the sea and was found on the beach of Roccalumera. The villages of Savoca and Pagliara fought over it so much as to assign it to the village where, transported by a cart freely pulled by oxen, chance would have brought it following the will of the Virgin Mary. Thus Pagliara was chosen where its inhabitants should have built a new church for the occasion in the Terranova district. But that was not the will of the Madonna so much so that she miraculously, while raising a wall, she moved the work tools beyond the small river of Pagliara. That place was then assigned for the construction of the church to follow the will of the Virgin.

Architecture and any works of art present in the Church of San Sebastiano in Pagliara

Built in the XNUMXth century, the large Monastery Church took the name of Santa Maria di Polimenon then change it to San Sebastian church.

The church of Pagliara has particularly large naves and deep crypts. Embellished the interior with many stucco decorations, in this place of practice both the rite of the Holy Roman Church and that of St. Basil the Great and St. John Chrysostom, i.e. that of the Eastern Church.

In fact, inside the Church of Pagliara there were several altars such as the Higher one, that of the Most Holy Crucifix, that of San Sebastiano, that of San Michele Arcangelo, that of Santa Maria di tutti le Grazie and that of S. Carlo Borromeo and of S Joseph. Inside there was also the precious canvas The Madonna del Gelsomino created by De Saliba, son of a collaborator of Antonello di Messina.

What you can do around the Church of Pagliara

After taking a look at the historical center of Pagliara, around the Church of Pagliara it is possible to make excursions such as the one that has the destination Sollima Tower (Locadi) a very interesting fortified building or della Church of Itria, a small rural church built in Greek style which has two altars inside, the main one dedicated to the Madonna dell'Itria and the other to San Liberante.
Time available it is interesting to carry out the tour of the Dinarini Valley which includes the territories of roccalumera, Furci Siculo, Pagliara and Mandanici which winds along a tourist route of about ten kilometers to be covered on foot to enjoy its beauty.

How is it possible to get to the Church of San Sebastiano in Pagliara

By car: Roccalumera exit from the A18 motorway A18 Messina-Catania/Siracusa-Rosolini; exit Taormina from the A18 motorway A18 Messina-Catania/Siracusa-Rosolini; exit Messina-S.Filippo from the A20 motorway A20 Messina-Buonfornello.