San Giuseppe, Baroque church in Piazza IX Aprile, Taormina, Italy.
San Giuseppe is a Baroque church in Taormina featuring a grand double staircase crafted from Syracuse stone that leads to three decorated portals. The facade displays marble elements in white, grey, and pink tones sourced from local quarries.
Construction of the church took place between the late 1600s and early 1700s, a period when the Baroque style flourished in Sicily. It served as the headquarters for a religious brotherhood dedicated to honoring the souls in purgatory until the early 1900s.
The interior walls display Baroque stucco work featuring floral motifs and cherub faces throughout the space. The floor combines black and white marble inlays that create a geometric pattern underfoot.
The church is located along Corso Umberto near Porta Messina, standing beside the Clock Tower and easily reachable on foot from the town's main entrance. It remains open for worship and occasional visitors, though visiting during prayer times should be done respectfully.
A wooden and glass reliquary containing a statue of the dead Christ is kept in the church and carried through Taormina's streets each year during the Good Friday procession. This tradition connects religious devotion with local customs passed down through generations.
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