The Temple of Hercules

The Greek Temple of Hercules, dating back to the 4th century BC, is one of the most important examples of classical architecture in the Messina area. Located on a rocky step overlooking the built-up area of ​​San Marco d'Alunzio, the Temple remains in a good state of conservation: rectangular plan, structure in antis with pronaos on the front, side walls ending in two doors between which two were raised Doric columns. Probably used for sports related to the cult of Hercules, the temple was built with isodom blocks of a particular type of travertine extracted probably from a quarry in the Rosemary Valley. In Norman times, the Temple was converted into a Christian church dedicated to San Marco Evangelista and held the role of Matrix until the 16th century. At the beginning of the 1600s, the building underwent Baroque influence and the portal was enriched with friezes and marble decorations of this style, it was subsequently abandoned to itself and, even in the 19th century, defrauded of its building blocks, which were used for other constructions. Very important dates for the Temple were 1969, when it underwent a restoration and 2015, the year in which a column rock was returned to the temple and to the entire Aluntian community, dates back to the fourth century BC.