The monastery of San Pietro Deca - Torrenova

Located on a plateau overlooking the Platanà stream, the monastery of San Pietro di Deca, which over the centuries has also been called with the name of Conventazzo, is an extremely important architectural testimony of the Basilian monasticism of Byzantine origin for the whole of Sicily. Its foundation dates back to the 5th-6th century, although traces of necropolises from the 2nd century AD have been found. The convent, which in addition to covering religious duties also performed administrative functions in the territories between San Marco and Capri Leone and was also an agricultural farm, remained in operation until the eighteenth century. Of the architectural complex today only the body of the octagonal baptistery remains standing, inside which traces of ancient frescoes are preserved, while the church and the monastic rooms are evidenced by the archaeological excavations that brought to light the plan.