Santa Teresa di Riva
Let's discover together Santa Teresa di Riva, the town that combines history and natural beauty!
Are you ready to discover a little gem of Sicily? Santa Teresa di Riva is a metropolitan city of Messina, overlooking the splendid Ionian Sea coast. With its 9344 inhabitants, it covers an area of about 8.13 km², but don't be fooled by its size: this city has many surprises to offer!
Physical geography
Located south of Messina, 11 km north of Taormina, 65 km north of Catania and 260 km southeast of Palermo, Santa Teresa di Riva stretches along the coastline for 4.3 km, with a hilly area behind. This area is characterized by the presence of citrus groves, olive groves, vineyards, and Mediterranean scrub, and is delimited by two watercourses: the Savoca Stream and the Agrò River. In the center of the city, we find the Portosalvo stream, which rises in the hilly reliefs near the historic center of Savoca and flows into the Ionian Sea after about 3 km.
History
The territory of Santa Teresa di Riva has witnessed various dominations over the centuries, starting from the Greeks, passing through the Romans and arriving at the Norman, Swabian and Angevin dominations. The Bourbon of Naples founded a customs there in 1812 and then, in 1820, built a port for the landing of goods and passengers. During World War II, Santa Teresa di Riva suffered serious damage due to bombing, but thanks to the strength and determination of its inhabitants, it has risen and today is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Sicily.
Monuments and places of interest
Religious architecture
Santa Teresa di Riva is a city rich in history and places of interest. Among these, the mother church and seat of the archpriest, the Sanctuary of Santa Maria del Carmelo, is certainly worth a mention. This sacred building, reconstructed in 1929, stands on the area previously occupied by an ancient church from 1507. Next to the church, we find the building used as a rectory, built in 1933, also in neo-Romanesque style. It contains some valuable frescoes depicting scenes from the Holy Scriptures and some nineteenth-century paintings.
The church of the Sacred Family is located in the center of the city. This sacred building with a single large nave in Baroque style, with a wooden ceiling, houses numerous valuable works. Among them, two statuary complexes deserve special mention.
About local culture
The city of Santa Teresa di Riva is known for the celebration of the Feast of Our Lady of Carmel, on July 16 of each year, in which the statue of the Madonna is carried in procession through the streets of the city. In addition to this, the patron saint festival of San Giovanni Battista is also celebrated on June 24 every year.
Conclusions
In summary, Santa Teresa di Riva is one of the most interesting and suggestive tourist destinations in Sicily. A city that combines the beauty of the sea with history, culture, and popular traditions. If you find yourself in this area of Sicily, you can't miss the opportunity to visit it and discover every corner. You will surely be enchanted by its beauty and the warmth of its people.
