He edited the works of classical authors including Archimedes, Apollonius, Autolycus, Theodosius and Serenus.

[10] Having already obtained priestly ordination since 1521 and, consequently, some ecclesiastical benefit, he was appointed abbot of the monastery of Santa Maria del Parto (in Castelbuono) in 1550 by Simone Ventimiglia marquis of Geraci, pupil and patron of Maurolico.

In 1535, Maurolico collaborated with the painter Polidoro da Caravaggio in designing triumphal arches (composing the Latin inscriptions for this apparato) for the entry into the city of Messina by Holy Roman Emperor Charles V. Like his father, he also became head of the Messina mint and for a time was in charge of maintaining the fortifications of the city on behalf of Charles V. Maurolico tutored the two sons of Charles's viceroy in Sicily, Juan de Vega, and had the patronage of many rich and powerful men.

In 1547 he collaborated with the sculptor Giovanni Angelo Montorsoli for the creation of the famous Orion Fountain in Messina.

By Maurolico are the Latin inscriptions on the ground-level basin of the fountain and, probably, most of the Neoplatonic program for this monumental civic sculpture.