The Church of San Teodoro is situated in the lower part of Casalvecchio Siculo and is one of the religious buildings most closely linked to the social and religious history of the village. According to the historian Stefano Bottari, its origins date back to the 16th century. Although it is commonly known as the Church of San Teodoro Martire, it is in fact dedicated to the Madonna dell’Itria, a devotion deeply rooted in the religious tradition of eastern Sicily.

During the 18th century, the church underwent major restoration work. Between 1 October 1750 and 7 April 1760, the priest Antonino Cannavò, procurator of the Confraternity of San Teodoro, oversaw works to restore and enhance the building. At that time, the church served as a focal point for the local community and for the religious confraternities that animated the spiritual life of the village.

A significant episode in its history is linked to the presence of the Discalced Augustinians. In 1661, following a series of sermons delivered in the church, the Casalvetina community offered the building to the monks from Messina for the foundation of a monastery. Construction was completed in the following years and in 1671 the Definitory declared the complex a Priory, appointing Father Raffaele della Presentazione as the first prior and Father Damiano di Sant’Antonio as subprior. The convent remained active until the mid-19th century, when laws aimed at dismantling the ecclesiastical hierarchy led to the suppression of religious orders and the confiscation of their assets by the State.

Over time, the church has continued to represent a central element of Casalvecchio Siculo’s religious identity, particularly thanks to the historic Confraternity of San Teodoro. Indeed, for centuries the confraternities have played a fundamental role in the life of the village, not only from a spiritual but also a social perspective, offering assistance to their members and contributing to the cohesion of the community.

The church houses a number of paintings of great interest. Among these, the *Madonna della Cintola* stands out; painted in 1754 and signed by Antonino Cannavò, a priest and procurator of the confraternity. The canvas depicts the Virgin offering her sash to Saints Blaise and Catherine of Siena, following a compositional scheme still rooted in the Counter-Reformation tradition.

Also of particular value is the Madonna dell’Itria between Saints Gregory the Great and Vitus, a 16th-century painting attributed to an unknown artist. The work depicts the Madonna and Child seated on a chest and supported by Basilian monks, an iconography that recalls the ancient processions of the Virgin Odigitria in Constantinople, when the sacred image was carried in procession every Tuesday by the monks.

Another significant painting depicts Saint Theodore, patron and protector of the Byzantine army, shown on horseback as he slays the dragon. This work is also attributed to Antonino Cannavò and dates from the first half of the 18th century, when the priest was rector of the church.

Following a major restoration project completed in 2025, the Church of San Teodoro has been returned to the Casalvetina community with a new cultural purpose. Today, whilst retaining its historical and religious significance, the building has been transformed into a multi-purpose venue for cultural activities, events and tourism initiatives, becoming a place where historical memory and the promotion of the local area come together.