Sanctuary of San Vito

The Sanctuary of San Vito is the oldest building in town and its spiritual centre — a Norman church that has been enlarged and fortified over the centuries until it resembles a small castle as much as a place of worship. The thick white walls and the squat tower are visible from far out at sea.

Inside, the church retains a cool, austere simplicity that contrasts with the bustle of the beach town outside. A venerated statue of the saint stands at the main altar. The small square in front of the sanctuary is the social heart of the village in the evenings, lined with the chairs of nearby restaurants and cafes.

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A story
The sanctuary was built on the site of the martyrdom of San Vito, a 3rd-century Sicilian saint whose remains were taken to Germany in the 9th century. The coastal town that grew up around the church took his name, and the fortress walls that surround the building were added in the 16th century as protection against Barbary pirate raids.