Church, set on hexagonal base, was built on the ruins of Saracen watch tower in the second half of '600. The dome was established in 1976 to be painted by Salvatore Fiume, who pointed to as ideal space to realize his dream inspired by the dome of St. Anthony of Florida, in Madrid, painted by Goya: shocking religious work, different from habitual iconography in attitudes of characters and composition. The scene, read counterclockwise, reproduces ideal arrival of St. Rocco in Fiumefreddo when the plague rages; the scenes of pain continue along the curve that goes behind Death, with reference to the plague described by Boccaccio and some picture from "I Promessi Sposi" (woman who "went down the threshold of one of the doors"), contextualized through items landscape and architecture typical of Fiumefreddo. Saint appears then wrapped in bandages, as if to attrack disease upon himselves, act to drive Death. As opposed to the pain, the last segment of the dome, color and pictures show the triumph of life. Finally, the circle closes on the reference of Adam and Eve, poetic and religious at the same time.

* By Franco Del Buono.