terra murata

Terra Murata, the island’s highest point at the edge of the cliff, is a medieval village.

Starting from "Piazza dei Martiri" (Sammarezio), is reachable only by a steep, but short slope, along which you can admire the fishing village of Marina Corricella, a suggestive place and natural set of several movies and advertising spots.

At the end of the slope, there is an open space and you know, you’ve finally reached Terra Murata, when you see a platform, with three cannons situated on it.

From here there is the most beautiful view of Marina Corricella.

Beyond this platform there is the Dominican convent of “Santa Margherita Nuova” (1586 – 1956).

To build the convent and the church on a steep rock, was necessary to raise the pillar of the arcs, and now that point is called Punta dei Monaci (“Point of the Monks”), and it is very characteristic.

When you find on the platform, looking the left, you will see another tightened slope.

Keeping going up on that slope, you will find in another famous place, the Piazza d'Armi ("Square of Weapons").

Here, to the left there are many high houses, that were used by the inhabitants, to resist to the enemies, the invaders, looking to the right, instead, there is the Royal Palace, built in 1563 by the Cardinal of Aragon Innico d’Avalos (The abbot of San Michele Arcangelo).

The short slope at the centre of the square, takes us to the Conservatory of the Nuns, nowadays it is the Palace of Culture, founded in 1656 in order to welcome the people, who were suffering from the black death.

Here there is also a beautiful view on the sea, and the most important building of the island: the Abbey of San Michele Arcangelo (XVI century).

At the start it was a Benedictine convent (VII – VIII century).

Through the years many times it has been ransacked, destroyed and then re-built, due to the Saracen raids.

The Abbey treasures several works of art.

One of these is the canvas, which represents San Michele, a work of the School of Luca Giordano, and the suggestive golden ceiling.

In this peaceful and gentle village, the streets are very particular: there are secret passages, covered roads, doors, stairs, windows, hallways, and wells filled with water.

The charm of this exceptional place is probably increased by the feeling of abandonment and quiet.