Faro Superiore – Pilgrimage Shrine, Wine and Local History

Faro Superiore brings together religious traditions, architectural landmarks and winegrowing. When choosing a hotel in Faro Superiore, you can draw on these different aspects of the town: the Santuario della Madonna della Guardia and the parish church represent its religious traditions, while the defensive complex and the so-called Castello del Duca reflect different aspects of local history. Vineyards and local wines are another focus. Depending on whether you are particularly interested in sacred history, architecture or wine, you can give these themes different emphasis during your stay.

Pilgrimage Shrine and Parish Church

The Santuario della Madonna della Guardia is a spiritual centre founded in 1920 in the village of Faro Superiore, among the green hills of Curcuraci. The feast in honour of the SS. Vergine della Guardia is celebrated at the shrine every year on 29 August. Its fixed date places the tradition within the annual calendar. If you would like to plan your trip around this feast day, check the latest information about the programme in advance.

The Chiesa di Santa Maria Assunta is the parish church of Faro Superiore and is located on Via Regina Elena. Its façade features a central openwork rose window and a small crenellated clock tower that serves as a bell tower. In addition to its role as a parish church, it has clearly identifiable architectural features: the central rose window and the small tower with crenellations.

A local religious tradition tells of a bell that rang by itself on a cold February night in 1554. This bell is still kept in Faro Superiore today. The event as recounted and the bell’s present-day location link a specific year with a local keepsake that has endured.

Buildings and Defensive History

The so-called “Castello del Duca” is an abandoned, dilapidated aristocratic residence with frescoes. The name should not obscure its current condition: it is described not as an inhabited castle, but as a ruined residence with decorated interiors. Its classification as an aristocratic residence also distinguishes it from the Faro Superiore/Curcuraci defensive complex.

This defensive complex consists of three buildings connected by a corridor. The two historical features of the town thus differ in their described form: one is a connected ensemble of three buildings, while the other is a single building described as an aristocratic residence. This distinction helps avoid interpreting the names as referring to the same complex.

The name of the Le Casematte winery also refers to military history: it comes from three small fortifications dating from the First and Second World Wars that served as accommodation for sentries.

Faro DOC and the Wine-Growing Landscape

Faro Superiore is part of the Faro DOC production area. Bonavita’s Faro DOC blend consists of 60 per cent Nerello Mascalese, 30 per cent Nerello Cappuccio and 10 per cent Nocera. The grape proportions give the wine a precisely defined composition, while the production area describes the geographical scope of Faro.

Bonavita’s vineyards lie on terraces at an altitude of 250 to 300 metres and form a natural amphitheatre overlooking the Strait of Messina. This description brings together altitude, terracing and the view.

The Le Casematte winery has a panoramic tasting room. If you are planning a tasting, it is best to check current visiting and booking options in advance. This lets you include the wine experience in your travel plans without assuming a particular appointment or that a tasting will be available.

Bus Connection for Travel Planning

ATM bus route 27 connects Marotta with Faro Superiore on weekdays. The service is specified for weekdays; no information is given about a weekend timetable. If you are considering this bus route for your travel plans, check the timetable for your intended travel day. This information may help you choose where to stay, without presuming a particular journey time or frequency.

Discover more destinations: Motta Camastra, San Pier Niceto, Alì, San Nicolò, Gaggi, Monforte San Giorgio, Pianoconte, Rodia.

For the broader travel overview: Messina.