The Collegio di Maria in Geraci Siculo is one of the most significant buildings in the village and plays a key role in defining the overall layout of Piazza del Popolo, standing opposite the Mother Church and occupying an entire block stretching as far as Via Vento, close to the ancient city walls. Its construction, which took place in the 18th century, involved the demolition of several houses and the pre-existing church of San Michele, which was already documented in 1622 during a pastoral visit.
The complex was founded in 1738 as a convent for women, the first of its kind in the Diocese of Messina, under licence from Archbishop Tommaso Vidal y de Nin and at the behest of Archpriest Don Gaetano Viviano. Its function was deeply intertwined with the social life of the village, as it was intended to shelter and educate young orphans, thus serving as a vital centre of care and education for the community.
Adjacent to the college stands the church dedicated to the Holy Trinity, which opened for worship as early as 1762 and was completed with its stucco decorations in 1774, as attested by the cartouche above the chancel arch. The interior features a single nave covered by a barrel vault and culminates in a richly decorated altar, characterised by columns on corbels that frame the painting of the Coronation of the Virgin by the Holy Trinity, created in the same year.
Inside the church are preserved works of great devotional and historical value, including a wooden statue of St Michael the Archangel dating from the first half of the 17th century, originating from the ancient church that has since disappeared, and a contemporary painted cross, both attributed to Sicilian artists. These elements bear witness to the continuity of the local religious tradition, including through the reuse of works from earlier buildings.
The Collegio di Maria and the Church of the Holy Trinity still represent an important historical and cultural complex in Geraci Siculo, capable of recounting not only religious devotion but also the social and educational commitment that has characterised the life of the village over the centuries.
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