Temple of Hercules in San Marco D'Alunzio
The Temple of Hercules in San Marco D'Alunzio represents one of the greatest examples of classical architecture in the Messina area.
It was built in the 4th century BC. on a rocky terrace overlooking the town.
It is believed that it was originally used for sporting activities linked to the cult of Hercules. The temple was in Doric style, with a rectangular plan, with a pronaos on the front, an in antis structure and side walls ending in two doors between which two columns rose. Its construction, with an isodomic structure, is made of rectangular ashlars of tufaceous stone probably extracted from a quarry in the Rosemary valley.
The temple was converted into a church in the Norman era, was dedicated to Saint Mark the Evangelist, and became, until XVI century, the Mother Church of San Marco D'Alunzio. Following renovations carried out at the beginning of the 1600s, the portal was enriched with friezes and marble decorations. Subsequently the building was abandoned and only following recent restorations did the building return to being a monument of great historical and artistic value.
In 2015, a column drum dating back to the 4th century BC was found.
