Crypt of San Cono a Naso

A Nose, It is the Temple of San Cono also known as church of San Conone, a true artistic jewel of the Sicilian sixteenth century. Dedicated to patron saint, the construction was desired precisely in correspondence with the St Michael's cave where San Cono spent the last years of his life.

La Crypt of San Cono it is characterized by its stone arches that rest on columns and capitals Doric style and a portal adorned with floral elements and vine shoots that embellish it in a rich way.

History of the Crypt of San Cono a Naso

The construction of the Crypt of San Cono a Naso dates back to the fifteenth century and was built on the same site where once stood the Church of San Michele Arcangelo dating back to the twelfth century, which was a place where Conone lived his last years.

The Crypt of San Cono a Naso was consecrated at the beginning of the sixteenth century and saw several restorations and embellishment works over time also due to the many earthquakes that occurred in the area, of which the last one in 2013 caused further restorations performed the following year. The fifteenth-century bell tower is the only remaining structure of the original construction.

Architecture and works of art present in the Crypt of San Cono a Naso

The building, which stands where another previous church existed, is built in the typical style popular in the XNUMXth century and remains in historic center of Naso, that is, in that part of the country where Conon was born and lived. It is impossible not to notice the bell tower which ends with a large single-lancet window in gray stone. The interior is divided into three naves of which, the one in the center is dominated by round stone arches that rest on twelve stone columns adorned with Doric style capitals. The beautiful wooden statue of the Saint, rests on the high altar and depicts San Cono Abbot in the act of dying with his gaze fixed on the sky. There is also another statue representing the patron saint where he has a dark complexion and who was transported in a vara, in procession. It is mistakenly believed that this was the appearance the Saint took on when the Turks were about to invade the country but they were frightened by that vision, ignoring the fact that the statue was created about thirty years before the Turks tried to attack Naso. What you see is only a copy of the original artefact which was destroyed due to a fire which caused serious damage in 1920.

The interior is in Baroque richly adorned with marble and embellished with paintings that recall moments of the life of San Cono.

The peculiarity of this building can be traced back to the fact that it stands exactly where the Grotta di San Michele was and that it is recognizable by an altar inaugurated during the XNUMXs.

Under the central nave is the crypt which houses a Museum of Sacred Art which includes various liturgical furnishings that come from all the churches of Naso. The sixteenth-century wooden panel Madonna with Sleeping Child is important, as are two ovals attributable to Sozzi. Also noteworthy are the seventeenth-century paintings that adorn the walls such as the canvas representing the Madonna della Mercede of Naples.

Obviously inside the Baroque-style crypt, the mortal remains of San Cono rest.

What is possible to do in the surroundings of the Crypt of San Cono a Naso

The country, although small, includes other stimulating destinations such as Small Palace, among the most important noble palaces. Owned by the Piccolo Calanovella family, it is spread over three levels of which the first, consisting of fifteen rooms, the second which was the family residence, consisting of seventeen rooms with ceilings about five meters high, and an attic. Inside the Palace there was a family chapel dedicated to Maria Santissima del Rosario.
Also Parisi Palace – with an irregular plan – it is worth a visit as it is characterized by a façade adorned with stucco and graffito motifs created at the beginning of the twentieth century such as the balconies with wrought iron railings in Art Nouveau style.

Don't miss the splendid panoramic view that reaches down to the sea and the Aeolian Islands that can be enjoyed from Belvedere of Naso.

One of the most significant works of the. deserves to be admired Sicilian Baroque, Chapel of the Rosary which is inside the Mother Church of Naso dedicated to the Apostles Philip and James. Its very rich ornamentation represents one of the most significant references of seventeenth-century Sicilian decoration.

How is it possible to get to the Crypt of San Cono a Naso

By car:: from Messina, Messina-Palermo motorway, Brolo junction, continue on the SS113 towards Palermo for 6 km and take the crossroads for Randazzo (SS 116 Capo d'Orlando-Randazzo);
from Palermo, Palermo-Messina motorway, take the Rocca di Caprileone junction, continue along the SS113 towards Messina for 9 km and take the Randazzo crossroads (SS 116 Capo d'Orlando-Randazzo).