The Church of the Carmelite Order, better known as the Church of Carmine, located in Messina, on the site of the temple, which was destroyed during the earthquake of 1908. It was built by the architect Cesare Bazzani and consecrated in 1931.

The Carmelite order arrived in Messina no later 1238 and settled down on the river San Michele, two miles from the city. There Carmelites built his first Church — Santa Maria del Carmelo. The place eventually became known as the Retiro a short - "Care" (since there lonely hermits lived). In 1292 the Carmelites actually moved into the city, but there they did not stay. In 1304 monastic order settled in the town of Contrada Pozzo Leone, where the brothers for several centuries occupied the Church of San Cataldo. But in 1783 the Church was completely destroyed during the earthquake.

The new home of the Carmelites was the Church of Carmine — she was lavishly decorated with frescoes and paintings in the Baroque style. In the Church there were five altars, two of which have survived, one was dedicated to the virgin Mary Carmelite (to see it today in the Regional Museum), the other to Saint albert of Trapani (was stolen in 1981).

On December 28, 1908 in Messina happened a terrible earthquake. In 30 seconds "lioness of Sicily and the beautiful Queen of the Bay", as described by the city Pirandello, became a city of the dead. Died in the disaster and Church of Carmine.

Only in 1926, thanks to the efforts of Archbishop Angelo Paino began construction of a new building of the Church and monastery for Carmelites, and in 1930, the religious complex was inaugurated. From that day to this, the Church of Carmine is the center of historical and cultural life of the city.

Inside the temple is in the shape of a Greek cross with side chapels and is decorated with colored marble and marble columns with carved capitals. The octagonal dome of the Church has a round window on each side and surmounted by a lantern. At the main altar you can see the statue from the 18th century depicting the virgin Mary with the infant Jesus in her arms.