| Santa Lucia del Mela | |
| Official Name: | Comune di Santa Lucia del Mela |
| Coordinates: | 38.15°N 32°W |
| Region: | Sicily |
| Metropolitan City: | Messina (ME) |
| Frazioni: | Femminamorta, San Giovanni (Pancaldo) |
| Mayor: | Matteo Sciotto |
| Area Total Km2: | 82.9 |
| Population Total: | 4755 |
| Population As Of: | 31 December 2011[1] |
| Population Demonym: | Luciesi |
| Elevation M: | 215 |
| Postal Code: | 98046 |
| Area Code: | 090 |
Santa Lucia del Mela (Sicilian: Santa Lucìa dû Mela) is a comune (municipality) in the Metropolitan City of Messina in the Italian region Sicily, located about 170km (110miles) east of Palermo and about 25km (16miles) west of Messina. It is one of the largest comunes in the province of Messina. Santa Lucia del Mela borders the following municipalities: Barcellona Pozzo di Gotto, Casalvecchio Siculo, Castroreale, Fiumedinisi, Furci Siculo, Gualtieri Sicaminò, Mandanici, Merì, Pace del Mela, Pagliara, San Filippo del Mela, San Pier Niceto.
The territory of the municipality of Santa Lucia del Mela, one of the largest in the province (less than 83 km ²), has a rich variety of landscapes. From the highest peaks of Peloritani, it offers the vision of the Tyrrhenian and Ionian seas. The wild and unspoilt have a rich variety of flora, ancient oaks, native forests. Climbing up the apple and its clear water perennial, you get to the giant prehistoric fern, that grows by at least 60 million years. The fauna is very diverse: there are dormice, blackbirds, crows, hawks, porcupines, wild cats, hedgehogs, martens, hares. In places: Postoleone (1020 m) where work is underway for years in forests, is found a welcoming refuge for forest and a picturesque lake, a destination for hikers and campers, with permission, many also from the ion rush. Interesting mountain trails on foot or horseback to the source of Mela river or Timogna Rocca (1180 m) can be organized using the guide prepared by Nicola Friend knowledge of the mountain territory. The town is just 7km (04miles) from the motorway Milazzo. It is only 35km (22miles) from Messina, and just 12km (07miles) from Milazzo and Barcelona P.G.
The origins of this town, the ancient Mankarru, are unknown. Greek ruins (on the left bank of the river Floripotamo remains of the temple of Diana Facellina were found) and 2nd century BC Roman tombs attest the presence of Greek-Roman settlements. At its peak, Mankarru or Mankarruna, thanks to its strategic position, was an important military outpost. On the remains of the former city walls the Byzantines built a fort, subsequently rebuilt by the Arabs between 837 and 851. On the slope of the hill, the latter also built a mosque. This was converted subsequently to the church of Saint Nicholas.
After his conquest of Sicily, the Norman Count Roger I, to fulfill a vow, built a church (1094) adjacent to the castle and dedicated to Saint Lucy, to whom he was devoted. Since that date the archaic name of Mankarru was changed under Christian rule to Santa Lucia. In The Gallery of Maps in the Vatican, Father Ignatius Daddi in 1529 called this city Santa Locia. With the establishment of a Prelature Nullius in Santa Lucia del Mela by Frederick II of Hohenstaufen, who chose the site as a place of recreation and rest, the temple was designated (1206) as the Santa Lucia del Mela cathedral. Since then, 67 prelates have overseen the diocese, adding further churches and decoration. In addition, the Prelate of Santa Lucia was awarded the honor of serving as Major chaplain of the kingdom and the town was entitled to 11 seats in Parliament.
Frederick II of Aragon fortified the town with walls and renovated its castle. He emitted a proclamation calling on the population of the plain, which was subject to recurrent raids by pirates, to resettle inside the town walls. In addition, a colony from Lombardy settled in the town. The town once sheltered a major Giudecca, a large Jewish community, in the current area of Candlemas; however, in 1492, Jews in Sicily, then under Aragonese rule were subject to Expulsion. The town had an active silk industry and silver mines. The city, as the state, boasted many noble families.