Monforte S.Giorgio is a little town (3.500 ab.) 21 miles far from Messina, 300 metres on Peloritan Mounts, near Milazzo and in front of Eolian Isles. It's a very ancient place as it was founded during Roman Empire and then, for its strategic position, it was an important fortified castle in the Middle Age, particularly during Arabian and Norman Domination in Sicily.

In the Sixteenth century Monforte was one of the most important town, together with Milazzo, in eastern Sicily and was enriched by valuable monuments, like the Principal Church that containes many artistic masterpieces like a pregiate polyptych of Antonello de Saliba, nephew and pupil of the great Antonello da Messina, and a Renaissance Last Supper sculptured in bass-relief and recently attributed to Andrea del Duca, a pupil of Michelangelo. Monforte is an ideal vacation place because it has a fresh climate in summer, it's not far from seaside and it consents to make many excursions in the nice next places.

The Church of Jesus and Mary is situated in the historical center of the village, near one of the Norman gates, and dominates a wonderful view of the sea and Eolian Isles. It was built in 1622 by Congregation of Jesus and Mary, founded about ten years before, that still today has and keeps it. It's a well-preserved sober baroque monument because it containes the original oil paintings from Caravaggio's School with their precious monumental frames of the early Seventeeth century, the statues and many other fine pieces of art, like precious collections of ancient silverwares and vestments. Next to church there are the ancient rooms of the Congregation, recently restored.

How to arrive at Monforte:

A daily bus service is available from Messina city center (near Cairoli Square and Central Railway Station) to Monforte San Giorgio. For more informations and timetable, please contact Giuntabus, via Terranova 8 98122 Messina, tel. +39-090-673782; fax +39-090-679677. Don't forget to specify that your final destination is: Monforte San Giorgio center of the village.

· By plane: from Catania and Reggio Calabria airports there are fast connections to Messina where a direct bus line conduces to Monforte S.Giorgio.

· By car: leave the motorway A18 Messina-Palermo at Rometta way out, than cover 14 kilometres in the direction of Palermo on the state road.