S. MARCO D'ALUNZIO

THE HISTORY :
Placed on the Nebrodi mountains, S. Marco d'Alunzio was founded in pre-Greek period. Infact , during the Ellenic colonization, the old Aluntium was one of the most important town of the Sicily tirrenic coast. During the Arabian invasion, it became the centre of the Christian resistence, for that reason they called it Demenna, that means the resistent. But it was in Normann period, under Roberto il Guiscardo, that it was named S. Marco.

There are a lot of architectonic elements which testify the rich and glorious history of that town: the Ercole temple, built in IV Century b. C. and changed in Cristian Church (S.Marco); the S.Teodoro church, a precious Bizantin monument with a Greek crossed map; the Aracoeli church, XVII century; the medioeval S.Basilio church, with its apse dated 1300; S.Agostino church, with the Filangeri's Sarcophagus; the Badia Grande, a Normann basilica, founded by Queen Margherita of Navarra; and a lot more. We can say S.Marco is a museum-town.
Speaking about the products of the place, we found the S.Marco red marble, that comes from the near mine and the wonderful embroidery, made with old tecniques.
Finally, the place where S.Marco is located is a marvellous natural terrace on Tirreno sea, so you have a 360° view, from the Eolie Iselands to the Cefalù Stronghold.

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