Sanctuary of Montevergine, Messina

The Sanctuary of Montevergine is deeply tied to the legacy of Saint Eustochia Smeralda Calafato, a woman of noble birth who defied her family’s wishes to dedicate her life to God. Born into a wealthy merchant family, Smeralda was known for her extraordinary beauty—so much so that, according to legend, Antonello da Messina used her as the model for his famous painting Virgin Annunciate (L’Annunciata).

Despite opposition from her family, particularly her brothers who even threatened to burn down the convent, she persisted in her religious calling. After taking monastic vows and adopting the name Eustochia, she joined the Poor Clares and, with the blessing of Pope Callixtus III, founded her own monastery in 1460 near the Accomandata hospital. In 1464, she moved her community to a newly built Monastery of Montevergine, where she continued her devotion until her death.

The Sanctuary of Montevergine is a significant religious site, attracting both pilgrims and history enthusiasts. Visitors come to see the incorrupt body of Saint Eustochia, displayed in a shrine that miraculously withstood the devastating 1908 earthquake.

The monastery, which was restored and reopened in 1929, features a one-nave church with a harmonious blend of architectural elements, intricate marble inlays, and finely decorated altars and capitals adorned with cherubs. Inside, visitors can admire remarkable artworks, including Giovan Battista Quagliata’s 1658 painting Virgin of the Angels with St. Francis and St. Clare, as well as Michele Panebianco’s 19th-century depiction of St. Francis receiving the stigmata.