Discover Monforte San Giorgio

Between Mountain Landscapes and Medieval Heritage

Monforte San Giorgio lies in the northern part of the Peloritani Mountains. Two thirds of the municipality’s territory is mountainous—a defining feature of a place whose history is reflected in churches, rock formations, castle ruins and distinctive place names. Those who want to discover Sicily beyond its coastal towns will find a destination with a clearly historical and cultural side here.

Next to Piazza IV Novembre, the Quartiere Arabo still displays features that can be traced back to models of Islamic architecture. The Chiesa Madre is also located in the square and is described as the most important building to visit in Monforte San Giorgio. The Gothic ruins of the Chiesa di San Michele Arcangelo date from 1200. Together, these buildings provide the town centre with different historical points of reference, without being reducible to the same period or the same architectural character.

Art, Sanctuaries and Traces of Earlier Times

Individual works of art also make the religious sites of Monforte San Giorgio noteworthy. For the Chiesa di Gesù e Maria, the artist Gaspare Camarda from Messina, who was born around 1570 and died after 1629, painted three large altarpieces towards the end of the 1620s in the 17th century. The Madonna di Crispino sanctuary houses a Madonna and Child that is considered one of the finest works by the sculptor Antonello Gagini from 1507.

The Chiesa della Madonna di Crispino near Pellegrino, a mountain hamlet of Monforte San Giorgio, was founded in the 16th century together with the adjoining monastery. The Santuario dell'Immacolata, on the other hand, lies between the last ruins of Frederick II’s castle. On 8 December, it is a destination for pilgrims. The site where Monforte San Giorgio was founded also features numerous prehistoric tombs carved into the rock, bearing witness to life in prehistoric times. They are known as artificial “Fornicello” tombs.

Katàbba, Rock Dwellings and Wide-Ranging Views

Katàbba provides access to the historical heritage in a special way of exploring it. As part of Katàbba, a guided tour leads through the medieval old town to discover its artistic and cultural heritage. The Katàbba and the significance of its various rhythms are explained along the way. Katàbba also includes guided tours of the Colle dell’Immacolata. Monforte’s medieval fortress once stood there; some rock dwellings have survived. Here, the historical past can therefore be experienced not only through churches and ruins, but also through traces carved into the rock.

For a sense of the landscape, the Portaterra terrace offers a distinctive viewpoint: In good visibility, it provides a view of Monforte San Giorgio, the Gulf of Milazzo and the Aeolian Islands. Those interested in culture can combine the town centre and sanctuaries with a view of the wider Sicilian landscape, while the mountainous setting visibly shapes the character of the municipality.

Local Special Features

The local character also includes products with unusual connections to craftsmanship and the surrounding area. In the Monforte San Giorgio area, tree heath is produced as a raw material for making pipes. In the coastal area, Smergia is also produced, a fruit that the municipality describes as a valuable typical fruit of the surrounding area. The range of documented special features therefore extends from prehistoric tombs and medieval buildings to local materials and a typical fruit of the coastal region.

For further regional orientation, you can also find Torrenova, San Giorgio, Tindari, Falcone, Montagnareale, Gioiosa Marea, Mongiuffi and Reitano.

For the overarching travel overview: Messina.