Holiday apartment in Mongiuffi: Discover culture, trails and festivals

Holiday apartment in Mongiuffi: Discover history and trails

Those planning a stay in a holiday apartment in Mongiuffi can shape their visit around historic buildings, distinctive trails and regional festivals. With construction beginning in 1640, the Palazzo del Marchesato is one of the area’s notable historical attractions. The Chiesa San Nicolò di Bari, built around 1690, contains a holy water font and a baptismal font made of red Taormina stone bearing the Corvaja coat of arms. The parish church of Chiesa di Santa Maria del Monte Carmelo houses marble statues of the Madonna della Catena and the Madonna della Vena.

There are also clear options for active days. The Pianura di Margi is a stone-paved path that leads through trees to the ruins of a Roman camp on a wooded ridge. The Scala Saracena begins in Contrada Uttara on the banks of the Ghiodaro River, near an old water mill, and leads to Contrada Rocche. You can reach this trail from Contrada Uttara. This makes it possible for families with different interests to plan one day around culture and another around activity and scenery.

The Galleria di Postoleone offers another link between history and orientation. It was carved into solid limestone during the wartime period from 1915 to 1918 and is located at kilometer 4 of the SP 11 between Letojanni and Mongiuffi Melia. The Galleria can be traversed by any means of transport. The Acquedotto Greco-Romano, also known as the Acquedotto del Diavolo, bears this name, was built by the Greeks around 200 BC, is approximately 25 kilometers long and served to convey water to Taormina. It can be reached via the Strada provinciale 14.

Spiritual sites also shape the area’s character. The Santuario Madonna della Catena was established at the beginning of the 15th century beside the ruins of a Greco-Roman aqueduct. The Madonna della Libera sanctuary stands on Colle Mongilone and replaces an earlier wayside chapel dedicated to the Virgin Mary. The A’ Vina spring lies along the road to the Santuario Madonna della Catena. The ancient chapel of San Leonardo dates from the 16th century; its 17th-century altar bears a relief of Saint Leonard made of white marble. The Chiesa di San Sebastiano is a noble family chapel from the 16th century and has an altar dedicated to Saint Joseph dating from 1644.

Traditions give the year its own distinctive events. The Festa degli Angeli is a peace festival introduced by Marchese Francesco Rao Corvaja in 1830 to reaffirm the restored harmony between the two communities. The sacred ceremony is repeated every Easter Monday. The Festa di San Sebastiano takes place on January 20 and includes a procession through Melia. During the procession, blessed arrows made from bread dough and baked in a wood-fired oven are distributed. The Festa di San Leonardo is celebrated on November 6 following a preparatory novena; the saint’s processional statue is displayed publicly beforehand. On the same day, the handover of a traditional braided bread called Cuddura and the distribution of smaller Cuddure to procession participants are also part of the celebrations. Around mid-November each year, the event “San Martino, Odori e sapori della Valle del Ghiodaro” also takes place.

From Messina, the route follows the A18 toward Taormina, then the SS 114 toward Letojanni, followed by the SP 13 and SP 11 toward Mongiuffi Melia. When considering a holiday apartment or holiday home in Mongiuffi, the desired mix of historic sightseeing, trails, festivals and regional impressions is a useful benchmark for your planning.

For more ideas for places to visit, you can discover Scafa, Calavà, Gaggi, Trappitello, Tindari, Sorrentini, Monforte San Giorgio and Calvaruso.

For the main travel overview: Messina.