The Chapel of Santa Crescenza is a place full of charm, whose roots go back to a very distant time.
San Vito Lo Capo, located along the coast of western Sicily, known for its splendid beaches and delicious fish-based cuisine, also houses a unique treasure: the Chapel of Santa Crescenza , a place full of charm, whose roots go back in a very distant time.
Legend tells the story of a young Roman patrician, Vito, who lived in Mazzara during the reign of Emperor Diocletian. The young man converted to the Christian faith by his nurse, Crescenza , and his tutor, Modesto, to escape the persecutions of Diocletian fled from his hometown and set sail towards the north coast of Sicily with Crescenza and Modesto.
The storm
During their journey, a violent storm forced them to seek shelter in a protected bay. The bay, sheltered by a rocky promontory known as Egitarso or Egitallo, was home to a small village called Conturrana built under an imposing rock formation. It was there that Vito, Crescenza and Modesto decided to stop, trying to convert the inhabitants to Christianity.
However, their efforts were in vain as the locals refused to abandon their pagan beliefs and as punishment for their refusal, a terrible landslide buried the entire village and its inhabitants. The earthquake that caused this event shook the entire region, leaving everyone deeply affected by what happened.
A panorama, among the most evocative of the area, frames the chapel dedicated to Santa Crescenza , built by the people of Erice in the 16th century right near this large landslide area, called Contrada Valanga, where according to tradition, the nurse of San Vito remained " petrified” by fear.
The building, with a square plan, has pointed arches on three sides and is surmounted by a small dome. His style is a mix of Arab-Norman and Gothic influences.
Today the Chapel seems to welcome travelers who come to San Vito Lo Capo to enjoy its sea and its natural beauty.