Mother Church of the Madonna dell'Itria of Mascali

Mother Church of the Madonna dell'Itria of Mascali

In the territory of Nunziata, one of the most densely inhabited areas of the Municipality of Mascali, there is this beautiful church which belongs to the parish of the Madonna dell'Itria of Mascali.

There is a certain aura of mystery about this church as the seventeenth-century structure that currently exists was built on part of the original one which was spared by a terrible earthquake which destroyed the entire inhabited area of ​​the time.
Here, then, are all the most important information for organizing your visit to the parish of the Madonna dell'Itria in Mascali.

History of the parish of the Madonna dell'Itria of Mascali

According to some historical testimonies, the current building of the Mother Church of the Madonna dell'Itria Mascali was built in the former decade of the 1600s. In all likelihood, however, the structure also incorporated some pre-existing parts belonging to an ecclesiastical structure that had been damaged by an earthquake.

This same circumstance then also occurred in 1693, significantly damaging the structure which, however, was rebuilt in the same way and completed in 1792. After its construction, starting from 1652, the church became the center of worship more important than Mascali and for this reason weddings, baptisms and all the other sacraments were celebrated inside, as evidenced by the registers of the time which have been perfectly preserved up to the present day.

During the earthquake of 1693, according to legend, the church was damaged but somehow the Lord wanted to protect his faithful and important relics of Saint Leonard, which are preserved here, given that the worst shock with a partial collapse of the ceiling occurred during the procession, with the faithful walking around the streets of the village. Since 1921 the church has been elevated to a parish, on December 19, an anniversary that is still celebrated today.

The architecture and works of art present in the Mother Church of the Madonna dell'Itria Mascali

The Mother Church of the Madonna dell'Itria Mascali has a facade that is typically in neoclassical style. A solemn staircase made entirely of lava stone leads to this structure which has a typically basilican plan, with three naves and a central apse.

The main facade is completed by two beautiful central pilasters while the largest door, the central one of the three that characterize the entrance, is flanked by a pair of semi-columns which are in the Corinthian style.

Above these are the entablature and obviously the tympanum. The culmination of the facade is characterized by a bell tower which has both a pediment which houses a clock and a small dome inside which there is a simple wrought iron cross.

There are no other external decorative elements and even inside the church has a very simple and linear style. To attract the visitor's attention, however, the wooden altar, of eighteenth-century workmanship, and two small stands in the same style and material, separated from the rest of the church by a short marble barrier, are enough. Finally there are some valuable paintings by various authors, such as the "Our Lady of Suffrage of the XVII" which has been attributed to Giacinto Platania and dates back to the seventeenth century.

What is possible to do in the surroundings Mother Church of the Madonna dell'Itria Mascali

The territory of Mascali is really rich in many attractions, so it is possible to take advantage of the opportunity of visiting the Mother Church of the Madonna dell'Itria to discover some very suggestive corners.
From a historical and architectural point of view, for example, the war memorial of the World War I, a building entirely in marble which was inaugurated in 1940 to replace a previous one which however was destroyed during a violent eruption in 1928. For those who love nature, on the other hand, a visit to the Chestnut of the Hundred Horses, a historic forest that has a history spanning over a thousand years.
On the other hand, the paleo-Christian basilica whose construction dates back to the XNUMXth/XNUMXth century AD and of which many visible remains still remain, contributes to taking us even further back in history. Finally, for a few hours of pure relaxation, the advice is to reach the beach of Fondachello, one of the most beautiful in the area, where the beach of black lava sand creates a wonderful contrast with the blue of the sea, against the backdrop of the Etna volcano that stands behind it.

How is it possible to get to Itria Mascali

To get to the Mother Church of the Madonna dell'Itria Mascali it is essential to reach the town of Mascali by choosing the means of transport most in line with your needs.
Those who decide to travel by car, for example, can take the A18 for those coming from Messina and the RA 15 for those arriving from Catania. The reference exits are those of Fiumefreddo in the first case and of the Etna villages in the second. In both cases, then, it will be essential to take the Ss. 114 to reach your destination.
For those who prefer to travel by train, in this case the reference station is Mascali Nunziata. Finally, both from Messina and Catania it is possible to use the bus service to reach the town of Mascali, which also stops in Nunziata.