Church of San Pancrazio

The church dedicated to the bishop and patron of Taormina dates back to the eighteenth century. The construction in Baroque style was built on the ruins of a Greek temple dedicated to Jupiter Serapide.

At the entrance of the church there is a courtyard fenced by a brick archway. At the base of the arches are placed great blocks of Taormina stone, probably belonging to the ancient temple of Jupiter.

The façade and the portal have Taormina’s marble columns and decorations in Ionic style and at its top is then placed a cross in wrought iron decorated with rays. To the rear of the façade you can see the bell tower built with stone blocks of Taormina.

The baroque style of the facade of the Church characterizes the main and minor altars too; on these you can then admire valuable works of sacred art, including the fresco depicting the martyrdom of St. Pancras.

On 9 July the town celebrates S. Pancrazio. During the feast, held only every four years, the “Vara” of S. Pancrazio is carried in procession through the Taormina streets.