Parish of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Terme Vigliatore
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La Parish of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Terme Vigliatore it is a linear building from the last century and houses various statues and sacred furnishings that tell the history and richness of the area and its inhabitants. In fact, the church hosts works by local artists who testify to the skill of Sicilian artisans. In the XNUMXs, restoration work was carried out to preserve the integrity of the structure.
The history of Terme Vigliatore and the Parish of Santa Maria delle Grazie
Terme Vigliatore, once Castroreale Terme, obtained its autonomy from Castroreale in 1966. The town was built on a Roman settlement on which medieval buildings were then stratified. The name "Terme" derives from spa vocation of the area that is close to the source of Venus a source of sulphurous and alkaline water, appreciated for its therapeutic qualities also by the Roman writer and naturalist Pliny the Elder. "Vigliatore", however, comes from the medieval Latin "vigilator" - guard place - due to the presence in the area of various watchtowers, essential to defend the population from the attacks of Turkish pirates.
The coastal area still retains traces of these ancient military garrisons.
La Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie it's a building in modern style and its construction began in 1921 by will of His Excellency Mons. Letterio D'Arrigo, but the works were carried out by his successor, His Excellency Mons. Angelo Paino. The bishop is known among the people as the "bricklayer of Christ" because, after the earthquake that struck Messina in 1908, he undertook the rebuilding of 132 churches and the restoration of 72 places of worship in his diocese.
The Church was opened to the faithful in 1939.
The architecture and works kept in the Parish of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Terme Vigliatore
The Parish of Santa Maria delle Grazie is a building with essential lines typical of churches from the early twentieth century. There Bell tower boasts the presence of five bells: to the east Santa Maria della Lettera; to the north San Giuseppe; to the south San Nicola; to the west S. Pio and San Michele.
The façade is simple, but is enriched by an artistic stained glass window with a bronze high relief depicting the Blessed Virgin Mary to whom the church is dedicated.
Inside the building, the statue of Santa Maria delle Grazie is located between the presbytery area and that dedicated to the faithful, while the statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus is near the entrance door to the penitential area.
Mons. Paino gives the faithful the altarpiece which represents the coronation of the Blessed Virgin Mary and is a very interesting artistic element. The work, in fact, is a valuable copy of the masterpiece of the same name by the painter Giulio Romano preserved in the Vatican Museums. In the 2000s, due to damage to the roof, a renovation was carried out to make the building safe.
What to do in Terme Vigliatore and the surrounding area
The visit to the Parish of Santa Maria delle Grazie is an opportunity to get lost in the streets of Terme Vigliatore which hold various treasures even outside the historic center. Among these, the Benedictine Park, A 'green area which houses the church of the same name with the door facing Jerusalem.
Inside the building there is a statue of the Madonna from 1.200 and in the apse stands a nineteenth-century papier-mâché crucifix, the work of the craftsman Matteo Trovato.
Not far from the town center you can visit the Roman Villa of San Biagio, a rich patrician residence from the 8st century BC. The structure has a square plan with an internal courtyard surrounded by rows of XNUMX columns. The Villa has private rooms reserved for family and guests and a very large private spa facility with hot, warm and cold water environments and a dressing and massage area. The "Frigidarium", the space with the cold tubs, is embellished with a black and white mosaic flooring with fishing scenes, typical of Roman houses in the Mediterranean area.
How to reach the Parish of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Terme Vigliatore
The Parish of Santa Maria delle Grazie is located in Terme Vigliatore, a small town in the province of Messina.
By car:, from Messina take the A20 motorway from viale Boccetta and continue towards Barcellona Pozzo di Gotto. At the exit, follow the signs for Palermo and proceed on the SS113 to Terme Vigliatore.
