Mother Church of San Nicola di Bari in Saponara

What you need to know about the Mother Church of San Nicola di Bari in Saponara

The Parish of San Nicola di Bari is the Mother Church of Saponara, a municipality in northeastern Sicily populated by about 3.700 people in the Metropolitan City of Messina.

Among the various religious buildings found in the village, the Church dedicated to patron saint it is the oldest; in fact, the history of the Parish of San Nicola di Bari in Saponara begins in the XNUMXth century, when the first stone of the building was laid.

However, the Parish as it can be admired today in Matrix square, is the result of the restoration carried out during the first thirty years of the twentieth century, after the Messina earthquake of 1908 had severely damaged the original building. However, many eighteenth-century elements can be identified in the facade, as well as the Renaissance style in the bell tower.

Inside the Parish, they can be admired sacred furnishings and works created between the XNUMXth and XNUMXth centuries.

Today the Church which, we recall, is one of the most important religious centers in the country, is the seat of the committee for the Feast of St. Nicholas, one of the most loved events by the community of the faithful. During Mass times, the community gathers in the Church to participate in the function.

The architecture of the Parish of San Nicola di Bari in Saponara

Despite the renovations that took place in the XNUMXs, the history of the building can still be clearly read in the Parish of San Nicola di Bari in Saponara thanks to the architectural styles of the facade, to the interiors and to the works of art that are kept there.

The main facade is divided into two orders. In the first order there are three portals, of which the main one is the central one, higher and surmounted by the tympanum in relief, while the other two side openings are smaller and decorated with Rococo elements; the second order, which rises only in correspondence with the central nave, is characterized by a large rectangular window.

The building is surmounted at its apex by a tympanum.
The tall Renaissance-style bell tower overlooks the square from the side of the church, with three orders, windows and seven bells.

The interior of the Parish of San Nicola di Bari in Saponara, with a purely Romanesque structure, however also presents itself as a real jewel of Baroque, full of details and decorations, sacred furnishings and works of art to admire.

The body of the building is divided into three naves, separated by marble columns with Corinthian capitals, while the apse area is covered in stone, making the environment even more welcoming for the faithful. The beauty of the high altar is not only in the marbles and in the red columns that decorate it, but also in the care of the ornaments such as plants, flowers, fruit and candles that are placed on the altar.

As you advance from the entrance to the apse, you will then undoubtedly notice the magnificent Baptistery which is located between the columns of the right aisle.

Among the works that are kept in the Church, admire the reliquary half-bust of San Nicola from the 1730th century and the Renaissance Baptismal Font, a work attributed to the Gagini school; in addition to sacred vestments and silver utensils, in the Parish of San Nicola di Bari in Saponara you can also admire the processional banners in silk, silver and gold and the canvases representing the Sacred Heart of Jesus (1777), the Madonna del Rosario (XNUMX ) and other biblical scenes.

What you can do in the Parish of San Nicola di Bari and in the surrounding area

Arriving in Saponara, the Parish of San Nicola di Bari is certainly one of the first monuments to visit and tourists who wish can of course also attend Mass. After the service, it will be a real pleasure to discover all the beautiful artistic features of this Church.

In the historic center of medieval origins, it is possible to stroll surrounded by the beauty of the hills on the slopes of the Peloritani Mountains: in the village, you can also admire the Bottesco source, while the Castle is located on the hill overlooking the village.

On the site of Saponara Castle, you will find the ruins of the ancient medieval fortress, from which you can also admire the fantastic view of the sea, which goes from Francavilla Tirrena in Rometta Marea.

To reach the sea, you will have to arrive at the hamlet of Saponara Marittima, which gives access to the free beach of the town. In the coastal centre, you will also find numerous ice cream parlors for a pleasant break or restaurants for tasty lunches and dinners with a sea view.

Saponara is only 18 km from Messina and with a short trip you can also visit the big city, with the Duomo, Forte Gonzaga and the beautiful Botanical Garden.

How to get to Saponara

Saponara, in the Metropolitan City of Messina, can be easily reached both by car and by train: those arriving by car can take the A20 Messina-Buonfornello motorway, turning at the Rometta exit, about 700 meters from the town, while those traveling by train, you can get off at Messina Station and continue to the center by bus or shuttle.

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