Contact Us

Fauna

Chiesa Madre "Ss. Michele"
Since 1824, the parish of Longi belongs to the diocese of Patti; previously it belonged to the diocese of Messina. The building of the “chiesa Madre” dates back to the XIV century and was commissioned by Lancia family. The bell-tower was built in 1559 and the interior of the church has been renovated many times (1851, 1935, 1936). During the first works into the church, the Crucifix of the high altar was moved to the present chapel probably to allocate the organ (1631) and the chorus (1654) that had been transferred there from the churches of S. Maria and of S. Salvatore which in 1851 had been destroyed by a landslide.
During the works of renovation of the floor (1935-1936) the gravestones of the Lancia, of the priest Francesco Gemma and of the benefactor Francesco Cottone were removed.
The unique gravestone that is still inside the church, behind the high altar, belongs to the baron of Longi, Petros Maria Lancia who died in 1652. During those works the panelled ceiling in golden and polychromatic wood was totally removed except for the part over the apse. The books and the volumes of the parish library are lost as they were used to prepare hosts or to make bonfires in the coldest nights. The same thing happened to the mosaic chandelier made be the “longese” Don Emilio Bellissimo, that was collocated at the centre of the church and that is now lost. But what remains now in the church must not be considered less important of the missing elements.At the entrance on the left, there’s the chapel of St. Leone, patron of Longi

Two flights of steps in marble stone lead to the entrance. It's a very simple architecture, made of “marma” stone, shards of bricks, and a saddle roof. The bell tower was built in 1559

This statue is made of carved wood; some parts of it are painted while others are covered with golden sheets.

This life-sized Crucifix is completely made of wood.

who was bishop of Catania. His wooden statue wears the bishop vestments and he holds in his left hand the pastoral staff while he is blessing with the right hand. The author is unknown but the statue certainly dates back to the XVI century while the sedan chair was built in 1800 with beech wood. Inside the church there’s also the altar dedicated to San Michele Arcangelo. The statue of the Saint is in golden wood and the Saint, with cupids at his feet, holds a sword and a shield. The canvas portraying the souls of the purgatory in the third altar dates back to 1600 and it hasn’t been restored yet. The oil painting portraying the “Martirio di San Sebastiano” dates back to the late XVIII century; it has been recently restored. At the centre of the church there’s the main altar. At first it was leant on five marble steps dedicated to Maria Ausiliatrice. Behind the altar there’s the most suggestive part of the church, the chorus. Its walls are covered with 21 seats of cut walnut wood. On the first seat on the right there’s an inscription: “fatto dal Maestro Cristoforo Vanaria, cittadino della nobile ed esemplare citta di Messina” (made by the master Cristoforo Vanaria, citizen of the noble city of Messina). In another seat there’s the date of execution: 1654.