MOMPILERI: “SICOLA POMPEI” Don Eugenio Francalanza, one of the characters in the novel “I Viceré” written by De Roberto, described the farmhouse covered by lava in 1669 and brought it to light. I.I.S “ Concetto Marchesi” Mascalucia

Involved Subjects History: History of the farmhouse and its role in the Etna district. Art: Architecture (churches and houses), Sculpture(GAGINI), Paintings (frescoes), Cinema(Set of the movie colossal « The Bible» in 1966.) Religion: Shrines. Science: Lava eruptions and natural environment. Italian: «I Vicerè’» passages of the eruption in English: Articles about the eruption.

Districts where Mompilieri is.

Mount Mompilieri 693 A.C.

Mompilieri south view

Eruption map in 1669

Mercy Church

Mercy Church: high altar with fresco.

Portico in the Mercy Church

The lava covers Mompileri, 1670, – fresco in the Cathedral in Catania.

Mary Child Church

Hermit’s cavern

Shrine- Virgin Mary of the Sciara

Entrance into the cavern where the Virgin Mary ‘s marble was found.

Basalt (farther 10 metres) perforated in 1704

Pillar fo the Annunziata Church.

Floor of the Annunziata Church.

Altar where the Marble of the Virgin Mary was rediscovered.

Statue of A. Gagini’s Virgin Mary.

Ruins of the Annunciation ( A. Gagini). ( A. Gagini).

Inside the hermit’s house where probably were the ruins of the Annunciation.

Ruins of a building in the farmhouse.

1)Chiesa Bambina 2)Chiesa Misericordia 3)Ruderi abitativi 4)Grotta del Monaco ed altri ruderi abitativi 5)Santuario Mompileri 6)Madonna della Roccia 7)Cisterna della regina 8)Monastero benedettini Monti Rossi Hornitos e Fossa Ghiara Grotta taddarite Scenografia de La Bibbia

Let’s protect Mompilieri district from the bulldozers and the urbanization that, without a logic, are deleting the statements and the culture of a «special» place. It belongs to us and we want to leave to our future. Let’s protect Mompilieri district from the bulldozers and the urbanization that, without a logic, are deleting the statements and the culture of a «special» place. It belongs to us and we want to leave to our future.

-Azzaro R. & al. L’eruzione etnea del 1669 nelle relazioni giornalistiche contemporanee. Le nove Muse Editrice Borrelli Iho. Alph Historia et meteorologia incendii Aetnaei anno 1669.Regio Iulio Branca S. & al. The large and destructive 1669 DA eruption at Etna volcano: reconstruction af the lava flow field evolution and effusion rate trend. Bull. Volcanol. 75: Carrera P. Il Mongibello descritto in tre libri. Per Giovanni Roffi Ferrara F. Descrizione dell’Etna. Palermo c/o Lorenzo Dato Gemmellaro C. Vulcanologia dell’Etna. Maimone Editore Catania Lombardo G. Ricordi storico-religiosi di Mompileri e dell’omonimo santuario. Tip. A. Bellia. Belpasso Mancino C. Narrativa del fuoco uscito da Mongibello.-il di’ undici marzo del C.R.E.S. Catania Massa C.A La Sicilia in prospettiva Padalino G..Mompileri. Edigraf- Catania. Maggio Patti Andrea & al. Sull’antica chiesa madre di Mompileri. Centro speleologico etno.IX Simposio Internazionale di Vulcanospeleologia Catania Italia -Recupero A. Storia generale dell’Etna. Tomo II. Catania Stella Starabba F. Sull’esistenza di bocche eruttive a sud est di Mompilieri formatesi durante l’eruzione dell’Etna del Atti accademia Gioenia di scienze naturali in Catania Bibliography

Edited by Amelia Sambataro who thanks the Organization “Territorio Antico” for the archive material