Bottesco square in Saponara

Things to know about Piazza Bottesco in Saponara

In Sicily, in the metropolitan city of Messina, there is, among others, the municipality of Saponara, a small town located on the northern side of the Peloritani mountains which constitute its main frame, but in reality this municipality consists of a main nucleus in the hills and four other hamlets, including that of Saponara Marittima, located in front of the sea, in fact. Saponara is also the name of the stream of the same name here, formed by the crossing of two other streams, namely the Cardà and Perarella.

According to local tradition, the name 'Saponara' should derive from the 'soap making' plant, once widespread in the area although today it has almost completely disappeared, its peculiarity is given by the fact that its root is rich in 'saponin' , a substance, which in contact with water produces an excellent foam as a natural detergent.
Knowing the history of Piazza Bottesco in Saponara means knowing the history of a part of Sicily certainly very interesting.

The history of Piazza Bottesco in Saponara is an ancient story

There is no certain information on the precise moment in which Saponara was founded but it is hypothesized that it may have occurred around theyear one thousand, thesis which is supported by the presence of the Castle located on the hill (321 meters high) overlooking the town, and of which today only the ruins can be admired, however it is estimated that it dates back to the Byzantine era, when as a defense they wanted to observe all the movements from above of the Arab invaders. From this hill you can also see the city of Milazzo and the profile of the Aeolian Islands.

Starting from the XNUMXth century Saponara was elevated to a fiefdom and in this period the figure of Dominic Alliata, which is remembered during the festivities of Carnival.

Other transfers to other noble families will follow, for example in 1300, under the dominion of Count Matteo Polizzi was built there Church of St. Nicholas, the Patron Saint of Saponara.

Then came the moment of the passage under the control of the Moncadas, an important Sicilian family of Spanish origin who, thanks to their economic power, gave new vitality to the village… until the moment when it passed to still other dukes, and so on until the end of the XNUMXth century.

1900 arrived, and with the devastating earthquake of 1908 there were numerous human and 'artistic' losses, in the sense that many buildings were devastated such as the Mother Church of San Nicola and the bell tower. In May 1929, Saponara became part of the municipality of Villafranca Tirrena, from which it then regained autonomy in 1952.

From Piazza Bottesco in Saponara to the attractions of this municipality

Some historical testimonies left in this village have already been mentioned, namely the Castle, located on the hill overlooking Saponara, although today it is heavily damaged, some boundary walls and a tower can be seen.
The 'Bottesco' is certainly worth a visit, that is the ancient fountain recently restructured and composed of basins continuously filled with clear water coming from the Peloritani heights.

In the past these tanks had become a public washhouse for the local women who came there to wash clothes and linen with their own hands, thanks to the cleansing effect of the water naturally soaked in saponin.

As for the religious buildings to visit, the Mother Church of San Nicola is the most important religious building in the town and is the reference point for patronal feast of San Nicola e of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, festivity celebrated with special processions during the triad of 6/7/8 December each year; in particular, that of 7 December is an evening procession in which very precise movements are carried out by the faithful who for the occasion are equipped with large torches lit along the entire route, this event is called "u Quadrittu".

In addition to religious celebrations, there are also other moments of celebration that are interesting from a tourist point of view, such as the Carnival, of ancient origin and defined as one of the Historical Carnivals of Sicily, it is characterized by the singular Parade of the Bear and the Princely Court.

How to get to see Piazza Bottesco in Saponara

Saponara is 23 km from the city of Messina and from this it is easily accessible by any means, i.e. car, taxi, bus, train, the reference road artery is (although not the only one) the A20 motorway and, with the exception of the train which takes a journey time of only 11 minutes, with all the other means it takes about twenty minutes.

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