Rotondella... - Secret World

75026 Rotondella MT, Italia

by Freyan Bliss

The town stands on a mountain 576 m above sea level and has very ancient origins. The town is mentioned in 1261 under the name "Rotunda Marinis," a term derived, probably, from its special position facing the Ionian Sea. Characteristic are the palaces enriched with beautiful portals. Very beautiful is the mother church dedicated to Santa Maria delle Grazie, inside which are kept the wooden statues of the Immaculate Conception, Our Lady of Grace and St. Anthony, and the church of St. Anthony of Padua, belonging to the Franciscan convent of the Zoccolanti. The church and convent, built in 1652, were inhabited by the monks until 1862 when, under the Siccardi law, they became state property. The building preserves a beautiful polychrome marble altar and several statues depicting St. Francis of Assisi, St. Paschal Bairo and St. Rose of Lima. The municipality's beaches, which are the destination of a considerable flow of tourists, have been enhanced by the creation of numerous accommodations.