Coming from Via Nazionale and taking over Corso Vittorio Emanuele, you will arrive in Via del Progresso where on the left you will find a beautiful church. It is the St. Stephen church "with greek irregular cross and a colored blocks bell tower". This church is one of a kind in all Madonie. The building works as an "Auditorium". The church wasn't the object special studies or quotes. It is a structure that dates back to the early seventeenth century. It shows an interesting spatiality forerunner of the island mature Baroque style. The painting representing S. Giuseppe Salerno broadens the painting horizon of early 600 Western Sicily. Its author is unknown.

STATUE: Representation of the Protomartyr S. Stefano holding in his right hand the sign of martyrdom, and the Gospel in his left hand, dated XVI century. The saint has a cassock with floral designs. This work was restored in 1986. by the Supeintendence.

PAINTING: Oil painting representing St. Stefano and his martyrdom history, made by Giuseppe Salerno (Cripple of Gangi). At the top can be seen the trinity: Father - Son - Holy Spirit. Under the trinity there are three angels: two on the right and one on the left crowning the saint. The left angels hold a flag with the inscription "PROTOMARTYR". One of the right angels holds three stones in his right hand as martyrdom sign and on the left hand some flower flowers falling on his chest. The third angels hold the "martyrdom palm" and three crown, one white, one red and one golden. At the center of the painting is the Saint dressed in white robe and in red-yellow cassock.

From the Saint face to the Trinity there is an iscription saying: "DOMINE DE STATUES ILLIS HOC PECCATUM". Around the painting, in small squares is represented the Saint martrdom history. In the lower part of the painting can be read: "HOC OPUS FIERI FECIT P. SBITER  GREGORIUS JACUNI ELEMOSINIS FIDELIUM 1609".

MONASTERO SANTA CATERINA V.M.

The origins of this monastery are bound to the cassinesi Benedectins a Congregation of "withdrawn women" which had their former home in the town first mother church, dedicated to S. Giuliano. This is proved by a request to the Messina Archbishop's Curia to erect an altar dedicated to St. Lawrence martyr in 21 April 1492, while in 1945 there was another request for the construction of the "Pinnata di San Pancrazio". In 26 October 1498 Antonio Mortellens, general vicar of Messina archdiocese, issued the foundation "bull". In 25 May 1533 G. Lombino the archpriest of the new mother church gave the church to the nuns with all attached benefits, and he committed to the continuous spiritual assistance of the nuns and he promised the participation of all clergy and people for the celebration of the church patron, for the rites of Holy Thursday, Friday, Saturday and for the Corpus Domini. Many gold and silver embroidered vestments are dated in 1751. In the year the Geraci Marquis donated to the monastery a perpetual supply of water for the garden. In 1818 the nuns took refuge in the countryside due to an earthquake that damaged the monastery. In 1866, after the suppression of all religious orders, the monastery lose all its real estates, which were later bought by Cefalù bishop and returned to the nuns. In 1959 the monastery obtained the state of charitable trust. Inside the structure are preserved many interesting acts and documents, and several valuable art works.

ART WORKS

SAN GIULIANO RELIQUARY: the base presents some sculptures of St. Catherine and of the Virgin, while above is locate the Risen Christ. Everything is realised with gold and silver.

STATUE: a marble representation of St. Catherine. On the pedestal are located several marble statue of Christ flagellation, St. Benedict, St. Scolastica, St. Julian and St. Lucy made by Giuliano Di Marino from Palermo.

ORGAN: made by Giacomo Andronico from Palermo on 1765 and recently restored.

SAN GIULIANO AND SAN PLACIDO PAINTING: dated 1654