Sanctuary of the Madonna delle Nevi in Santa Lucia del Mela
The Sanctuary of the Madonna delle Nevi of Santa Lucia del Mela is the spiritual symbol of the village and dominates the entire city from above.
It was built in 1673 on the site where the quadrangular tower of the Castle of Santa LUcia del Mela once stood, at the behest of monsignor Simone Impellizzeri, prelate of the time, who provided for the restructuring of the complex, entrusting it to don Francesco Picciotta. In 1695, the Seminary was transferred from the Bishop's Palace to the restructured premises, which soon became a renowned center of study.
In 1674, the stupendous marble statue of the Madonna della Neve was placed in the center of a majestic Baroque frame, by Antonello Gagini from 1529, coming from the rural church of San Giuseppe.
The main altar is occupied by a large composition of carved and gilded wood in the eighteenth-century Baroque style, on the sides two rooms delimited by rich frames of acanthus leaves surmounted by shells, symbol of earthly pilgrimage, house the statues of Santa Lucia and San Biagio co-patrons of the church. The beautiful marble statue of the Madonna della Neve is located in the central niche.
The compartment behind the Castle Gate is the only remainder of the Castle interior. Intended as a chapel in 1322, a pointed arch niche with black pumice piers was carved out of the thickness of the wall for placing an altar. On the walls there is a large loophole that overlooks the arch until it borders on the vault, an oculus in the opposite wall and the window on the left side, now walled up.
Inside the cylindrical tower of the castle there is a precious library with incunabula, sixteenth-century and very ancient texts.
