Quartiere Santa Margherita

Audioguide created in collaboration with the students of "A. Gussio" scuola secondaria di primo grado Sant'Alessio Siculo.

Narrated by Martina Leo.

Amongst the small built up area stood an Augustinian convent, whose only remaining trace is the apse of the ancient church.

The ruins show an apse with a semi-dome roof, which is set on a pointed arch.

On the vault, remains of a fresco of the Twelve Apostles are still visible. It is still possible to grasp the faces, hands and draperies of their clothes.

The adjacent building - which presents a clearly visible coat of arms with the Trinacria - is called "Dazio".

It was a Bourbon barracks, which was used to control the transit of goods and to suppress smuggling attempts. In this place - transversely to the road axis - was placed "La Catena" ("the chain") to force travelers to pay a "barrier fee": two grana (four cents) for a saddle animal, one grana for a donkey, four grana for a cart and six grana for a litter.