Capri Leone: Churches, Art and the Nebrodi

Capri Leone brings together the landscape of the northern Nebrodi and striking examples of sacred art and history. Highlights include churches with very different origins, a sanctuary carved into the rock, a square with a fountain full of lions, and a park with walking trails. You can shape your stay around your own interests: exploring architecture and art, spending time on trails in green surroundings, or planning your visit around an announced event date.

Location and Getting There

Capri Leone lies in the northern Nebrodi, on the far left bank or edge of the Fiumara di Zappulla. This location gives the town a distinct landscape setting, without reducing its various attractions to a single theme. The A19 PA–CT and A20 PA–ME motorways, as well as the Capri Leone exit, provide route guidance. Check the current route for your travel date.

Churches and Art from Different Centuries

The Chiesa Madre was built in the Middle Ages. The Chiesa di Maria SS. Annunziata dates from somewhere between the 14th and 16th centuries. Inside, it houses a marble statue attributed to Antonello Gagini and dated to 1533–1534. There is also a processional fercolo featuring a wooden depiction of the Annunciation from the 17th century. These works offer a chance to see different periods of art history side by side. If you would like to visit the interiors, check in advance whether a visit is possible.

Palazzo Cupane tells of a different era: the baronial palace was built in the mid-19th century. Its contrast with the medieval and early modern churches brings the variety of surviving architectural and artistic forms to life, without reducing the sights to a single historical period.

Rocca, Piazza and Panoramas

The Santuario di Santa Maria di Tindari is located on the Rocca, the rocky massif that gives the densely populated center its name. The sanctuary’s interior is carved into the rock and decorated with stained glass. Its current appearance dates to a renovation in 1986, when a monumental fiberglass statue of the Virgin Mary by Andrea Trisciuzzi was placed on a tall pedestal. The rock-hewn space, colored glass and later statue combine to shape the impression of the sanctuary.

On Piazza dei Leoni, a monumental fountain with two lions spouting water from their mouths explains the square’s name. This is distinct from the red San Marco marble sculpture of a lioness, which dates from the 15th century. San Marco marble also features in the simple marble portal of the Chiesa di Sant’Antonio Abate. The church stands at the town’s highest point and frames a panoramic viewpoint. The fountain, sculpture and portal offer different highlights for a cultural and historical walk around Capri Leone.

In Rocca di Capri Leone, the “Muri Parlanti – Street Art Capri Leone” project is also part of the local art scene: it includes a mural by Andrea Sposari in the area in front of the schools. Its connection to street art adds a contemporary artistic form of expression to the historical works.

Walking Trails and Dated Events

Parco Urbano Peppino Grasso has walking trails, a large open-air auditorium and a small lake where ducks live; their presence may vary. The park offers several different experiences: trails, an open-air event space and a body of water. When planning your time in town, you can make this focus on nature and activity a priority alongside the churches, art and views.

Dated events include the Cronoscalata del Leone, a regional cycling time trial held on 13 July 2025 in Rocca di Capri Leone. The 2026 summer program included Sicily Fud Eat Street, with food stalls on Piazza Gepy Faranda on 30 July. From 3 to 5 July, the Nebrodi Horses Fest dedicated three days to equestrian sports at Piazzale delle Scuole. The Mare Festival was scheduled to feature a show cooking event with tastings of food from the sea and mountains on 9 August. A fish tasting and Sicilian wines were announced for the second evening, on 11 August. These examples show how varied the events were: cycling competitions, equestrian programs and culinary events. For your own trip planning, the key is to check the latest announced event date.

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Discover More Destinations

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For the broader travel overview: Messina.