The Torre dei Saraceni in Santa Teresa di Riva

The history of the Torre dei Saraceni in Santa Teresa di Riva

From coastal watchtower to one of the most important monuments of the city, the History of the Torre dei Saraceni in Santa Teresa di Riva, in the Metropolitan City of Messina, tells over 1000 years of life of the tower which represents one of the most interesting attractions of Santa Teresa .

The building, located in the Bucalo district, was used around the year XNUMX to defend the village from pirate raids. At the time all the marauders and adventurers who came from the sea were identified as Saracens and so the tower took the name of Tower of the Saracens, name by which we still know it today.

Adjacent to Shrine of Santa Maria del Carmelo, the tower is incorporated in a larger two-storey building, to which in the past a ground floor was also annexed which is now underground and unusable; ownership of the entire building passed fromArchimandrite Leonzio Crisafi in the fifteenth century, to the Bucalo family, who divided it into various fractions, also reducing the height of the building and modifying its architecture.

The most important changes took place in 1929, when a wing of the building annexed to the tower was also demolished due to the works for the construction of the new Sanctuary of Santa Maria del Carmelo.

The basement, now inaccessible due to the damage caused by the 1958 flood, seems to give access to an underground passage which would connect the Torre dei Saraceni with another tower located about 250 meters away, but the inaccessible conditions of the underground keep still today the secret of this underpass.

The architecture of the Torre dei Saraceni in Santa Teresa di Riva

If the story of the Torre dei Saraceni in Santa Teresa di Riva tells us little or nothing about the mysterious underpass, what we can instead see clearly it is its beautiful architecture.

The cylindrical tower rose for about 15 meters in height, towards the sky, culminating in a vault, although today we can see a smaller version with a flat roof with classic medieval battlements. The surface is covered with stones.

On the tower you can see several openings with brick frames and also a small balcony, which however was not part of the original structure. The side of the tower that looks towards the square is characterized by three overlapping windows in the Gothic style. Looking closely at the tower, in some points it is possible to see its original roof, as well as some parts of the old adjacent building, now demolished.

Inside, the tower houses a single room on each floor.

What you can do near the Torre dei Saraceni in Santa Teresa di Riva and in the surrounding area

The history of the Torre dei Saraceni gives us a fascinating building, which attracts visitors not only for its beauty, but also for its adventurous and sometimes mysterious events. Then, a stay in Santa Teresa di Riva will be the perfect opportunity to find out everything about the Torre dei Saraceni.

The proximity to the Sanctuary of Santa Maria del Carmelo, Mother Church of Santa Teresa di Riva, also allows you to discover the most important religious building in the town, which overlooks Via Regina Margherita in the center and houses numerous and impressive sacred and artistic treasures.

In the city you will also find many other churches to visit, such as the Church of Our Lady of Grace of the eighteenth century which is located in the hamlet of Fautarì or la Church of Our Lady of the Rosary, where you can admire the complex of Our Lady of Pompeii.

To truly discover all the beauties of Santa Teresa di Riva, stroll through the streets of the centre, admiring the Art Nouveau villas and XNUMXth-century buildings found in the city, such as Villa Crisafulli Ragno, which also houses the city park or Villa Carrozza, where you can admire the wonderful frescoes of the interior.

If the weather permits, don't forget to go to the beach: the seaside village of Santa Teresa di Riva overlooks the splendid Ionian Sea and here the water is crystalline and clear, perfect for a dip between one visit and another .

Going up the river inland, near Savoca, less than 10 km from the coast, you will find the beautiful Church of San Nicolò, built in the thirteenth century and guardian of numerous statues and paintings of the seventeenth century, such as the silver statue of Santa Lucia or the altarpiece depicting the Madonna del Parto.

Only 38 km from Santa Teresa di Riva, you can finally reach Messina, where among the main attractions of the city you will find the Cathedral, the Orion Fountain and the Gonzaga Fort.

How to get to Santa Teresa di Riva

Getting to Santa Teresa di Riva, in the Metropolitan City of Messina, is easy both by car and by train.
Those who prefer the car can take the A18 Messina-Catania motorway and take the Roccalumera exit about 3 km from the town, while travelers who prefer the train can get off directly at the Santa Teresa di Riva station, which is in the center.

© Eugenio Nicola Scarcella, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons