Our Lady of Providence Church in Antillo

The main Church of Antillo is the one dedicated to Saint Mary of Providence. The place of worship was also decreed Mother Church, therefore it is particularly dear to the faithful for whom it is a very important point of reference. The structure, however, is also extremely interesting from the point of view of its architecture: here is all there is to know to better organize a visit to the Church of Santa Maria della Provvidenza.

History of the Church of Our Lady of Providence in Antillo

The history of the Mother Church of Antillo is quite particular since, over time, the structure has known very eventful events. The building of the first church dates back to a year before 1770, probably 1750: unfortunately little is known about this first nucleus as it was completely demolished in 1888 to make way for the new, much larger and more solemn structure. This church, much loved by the population of the faithful, however suffered considerable damage in the terrible earthquake that struck Messina in 1908, so much so that it was decided to rebuild the structure for the umpteenth time which was therefore once again razed to the ground and rebuilt in 1936. The the current building is precisely that of the first half of the twentieth century, embellished only inside with numerous works of art, some from the previous church.

The architecture and any works of art present in the Mother Church of Antillo

The Church of Our Lady of Providence in Antillo has a very simple structure but for this very reason even more fascinating. The entrance door, in beautiful inlaid wood, is located in an elevated position with respect to the road and to reach it you need to walk up a flight of stone stairs. The external façade is essential, with four columns (two on each side) which support the rectangular architrave above which there is an iron cross. On one side you can admire the bell tower.

Inside, however, the mother church of Antillo has a single nave, decorated with white and gilded stucco. The altar is located in the transept and is in marble while on the side walls there are chapels dedicated to different saints. Among the works that can be admired inside, the statue of the Madonna della Provvidenza deserves particular attention, a wooden crucifix that is life-size and the statue made in the nineteenth century in papier-mâché that reproduces Saint Anthony of Padua. The pipe organ, from the early XNUMXs, is also very beautiful.

What you can do around the Madonna della Provvidenza Church in Antillo

Those who go to Antillo to visit the mother church will be able to take advantage of the opportunity to admire other places of great interest in this village in the province of Messina. Walking through the streets of the historic center will certainly capture your attention Monument to the Fallen as well as that atemigrant, created to honor the many West Indians who over the centuries have had to leave the country to seek fortune and wealth elsewhere. Instead, it is historical Vena water fountain which dates back to 1894 and is connected to a spring that supplies water to the entire town. From an absolutely more recent era (dated 1985) but very suggestive is the Garden of Redemption, in fact a parish structure but which houses a beautiful garden inside where you can meditate and pray.

How is it possible to get to Antillo

By car:, those who wish to reach Antillo can do so by traveling from Messina or Catania first on the A18 and then on the E45.
From Palermo, however, the indications are to take the A20 and then continue on the E90 to your destination, the same road that those coming from Trapani must choose.
From Syracuse, on the other hand, you only take the E45 while from Enna the right road is first the A19 and then the E932.

Antillo doesn't have its own railway station so those of reference for those who want to travel on the train they are that of Letojanni and Nizza di Sicilia.
Finally, it is always possible to travel with the lines of bus numbers made available by AST that connect Antillo to the main cities of Sicily.