The Byzantine Church in Rometta

The Byzantine Church of Santa Maria dei Cerei in Rometta

The Byzantine Parish of S. Maria dei Cerei in Rometta was formerly called Santa Maria della Candelora and is the oldest church in the Sicilian town.

The church stands on top of a rocky spur overlooking the town of San Cono, within a beautiful natural environment and del medieval villagejealously guarded.

The church can be dated between the sixth and ninth century with one devoid of Byzantine style evident from the domed central plan. It turns out to be a rare example of architecture attributable to the Byzantines and also after the Islamization of the island which took place with the conquest of the Arabs, the church kept its original shape.
In the thirteenth century the complex was the seat of a congregation of nuns - who moved from the plain of Milazzo - who established a convent left in the following century in 1320. While obtaining papal approval, at the behest of the queen Elizabeth of Aragon, they moved towards Messina to honor Santa Chiara.

Subsequently and until the end of the XNUMXth century, the church of S. Maria dei Cerei remained a patronage of a monastery in Messina.

Architecture and works of art present in the Byzantine Parish of S. Maria dei Cerei in Rometta

The Byzantine Parish of S. Maria dei Cerei in Rometta stands on a square base which, on the outside, offers the vision of a massive parallelepiped on which rests a polygonal drum from which rises a hemispherical dome.

The exterior was built with limestone mixed with brick scraps and is reinforced in certain points by stone material. Unlike the wall, both window and door arches, that too of the arches and the vaults on which the dome rests, are built with hard stone ashlars placed in a regular manner which alternate with groups of bricks placed longitudinally.

The inside – but also the outside – there are evident traces of interventions carried out after the building of the complex, in fact, in the part facing south you can see the trace of a targeted door.

Also inside is a beautiful exhibition dating back to the XNUMXth century in local stone.

The plan of the building is characterized by a central layout a Greek cross from which four corner rooms start which are separated by very thick walls.

These rooms communicate with each other through small arched rooms in the center and the walls must have been frescoed in ancient times, as evidenced by some sacred decorations with inscriptions in Greek.

Surely the church had the Narcete or an atrium that covered the entry doors that face east, right in direction of the Holy Land.

For a long time the Byzantine Parish of S. Maria dei Cerei in Rometta was called, by mistake, with the name of the San Salvatore. Error this, due to the architect Camillus Author who mistook it for another Byzantine building which was in Rometta but which, at the time of writing a document by the architect, had already disappeared.

What you can do in the surroundings of the Byzantine Parish of S. Maria dei Cerei in Rometta

In Rometta, the historic center deserves to be visited, which preserves intact its medieval layout which is accessed from the Porta Milazzo, as well as the places that offer the opportunity to admire a beautiful panorama that are found when reaching the Madonna della Scala Church and which turn towards the nearby village.

Interesting are the remains of the Palatium of Frederick II of Swabia, as well as the picturesque hamlet of Conduri which is located just 3 kilometers from the center of Rometta, exactly halfway between Gimello and Santa Domenica. This hamlet dates back to medieval times and, although not inhabited, retains all its timeless charm.

For sea lovers, it is impossible not to spend a few hours in the hamlet of Rometta Tide which offers a whole series of beaches sheltered by rocks. Because of these breakwaters, the beach has a width of about eighty meters while the coast stretches for more than two and a half kilometres.

Rometta organizes many interesting events capable of capturing the visitor's attention. The Christmas markets that take place during the month of December in Piazza Padre Pio are one of these events.
Another event is also interesting: Festive October, also known as Ottobrata Romettese which is located in the historic center and which includes the festival of macaroni with sausage sauce and the festival of the pig in the oven but also shows in the square, a market and guided tours.

During the month of October, Sundays are busy with events featuring roasted chestnuts, cheese and oil.

In summer, an unmissable event is the food and wine event Via dei Sapori held in the historic center of Rometta.

How is it possible to get to the Byzantine Parish of S. Maria dei Cerei in Rometta

To reach the archaeological area of ​​the Palatium of Federico II in Rometta, take the Rometta exit of the A20 Messina-Palermo motorway, and then take the Provincial Road 11 for about 56 km which leads from the hamlet of Rometta Marea to the ancient city of Rometta.

It is possible to visit the Church with organized tours within the town.

© Pinodario, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons; M. Costa, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons