Catania

Piazza del Duomo in Catania

Piazza del Duomo welcomes visitors with ” O Liotru “, the elephant symbol of Catania. The various legends that accompany it consider it magical , protector from the eruptions of Etna, memory of a forgotten religion and much more.

The name ” O Liotru ” seems to derive from the distortion of Heliodorus, the name of a noble considered a magician and necromancer who rode the stone elephant to go to Constantinople. The fountain takes its current shape in 1736 even if it is the result of several elements with different ages: the marble base, the stone elephant, the obelisk brought to Catania by the Crusades, the restored trunk and the tusks added after the damage. of the earthquake of 1693. The fountain is framed by the Palazzo degli Elefanti (Town Hall), the Palazzo dei Chierici joined to the Cathedral (see point 2) by a passage above the Porta Uzeda . In front of the Town Hall there is the Amenano fountain , the river that flows under Catania visible right under the fountain.

Cathedral of Sant’Agata in Catania

If you find yourself passing through Catania on February 5th, you will realize the love that the people of Catania feel for Sant’Agata , the patron saint of the city to which the cathedral is dedicated.

Built on the remains of ancient baths, the Cathedral of Sant’Agata has been destroyed and rebuilt several times after earthquakes and eruptions on Mount Etna. The first construction dates back to around 1070 and only the apse remains from that period while everything else has been destroyed and rebuilt from scratch. The current appearance dates back to the works carried out between 1734 and 1761 by Vaccarini (external) and Palazzotto (internal). The facade is made entirely of Carrara marble with grafting of the columns from the ancient Roman theater. The statues of Sant’Agata are distributed on all orders. The interior is majestic, with a Latin cross divided into three naves . Protected behind a gate is the chapel of Sant’Agata with the room that contains the relics. In front of the altar is the tomb of Vincenzo Bellini , a musician from Catania by birth.

The popular markets of Catania

As in any southern city, you can find the true soul of the place by visiting the popular markets . Those in which the people of Catania show themselves as they are, in their normal daily activities

There are several but there are two that absolutely cannot be missed. The first is the Pescheria which is located behind Piazza del Duomo and in Fera ‘or Luni , in Piazza Carlo Alberto. La Pescheria is a fish market, the most colorful, animated, chaotic and therefore characteristic of Catania. As in many markets in Sicily, here the vuciate resound, that is the cries of the traders to attract customers. Not far away, in Piazza Carlo Alberto, takes place in Fera ‘o Luni , a daily market of fruit, clothes, toys and other merchandise which in recent years has taken on a strong multi-ethnic connotation. In the same square, every Sunday, there is a Flea Market , a delight for those looking for a bargain at a low price.

Via Etnea in Catania

The most important and scenic street in Catania starts from Piazza del Duomo: Via Etnea, which takes its name from the fact that it goes in the direction of Etna, always visible during the 3 km walk.

A shopping street, largely pedestrianized and recently repaved, Via Etnea is a strolling place for people from Catania and tourists. Along the way it is possible to take a journey into the Sicilian Baroque because almost all the palaces and churches were built by the architects Vaccarini and Battaglia after the disastrous earthquake of 1693 that destroyed Catania. Among a showcase of fashionable brands, a stop at the historic Pasticceria Savia , do not miss Piazza Università with the Rectorate and San Giuliano buildings and the 7 Baroque churches, including the splendid Collegiate Church . The walk ends in Piazza Cavour, in what the people of Catania call “The village” because until 1693 it was outside the city walls.

Massimo Vincenzo Bellini Theater in Catania

Catania could not fail to pay homage to its most famous son, the composer Vincenzo Bellini. And he did so in 1890, 55 years after his death at the age of 34 with Norma, his most famous work.

That evening they were all there: Luigi Capuana, Giovanni Verga, Federico De Roberto, nobles and ministers of the Kingdom. At the end of the performance, the people also enter, to admire that theater that was said to be beautiful. And indeed it is: with a guided tour you can visit the hall with four tiers of boxes and the richly decorated gallery. The ceiling is frescoed with images of Bellini and his most famous works: Norma, La sonnambula, I puritani and Il pirata . The curtain portrays the ” Victory of the Catania people over the Libyans “. Could not miss the bronze statue of Vincenzo Bellini, the work of Salvo Giordano. Today the Bellini has an orchestra of 105 elements, a choir of 84 elements and has a rich concert and opera season.

Via dei Crociferi in Catania

It is not well known where the name comes from: perhaps from the presence, once upon a time, of the Cruciferi fathers or from Crocifisso , due to the presence in just 200 meters of 4 churches, all masterpieces of Baroque art.

You enter the street from the Arch of San Benedetto which connects the church of the same name with the Benedictine Convent. The church is famous for the Angel’s staircase , a marble staircase with statues of angels. Immediately after you meet the Church of San Francesco Borgia and the Jesuit College with a beautiful internal cloister with arcades and columns. In front of the college is the church of San Giuliano , considered one of the most successful examples of Catania and Sicilian baroque. The walk ends in Villa Cerami , a green oasis that houses the Faculty of Law. Via dei Crociferi is protected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, but when you visit the street you don’t get the impression that this is really the case. Parked cars, written on the walls and evident decay make it an unfinished pearl (one of many) of Southern Italy

The Benedictine Monastery in Catania

The Benedictine Monastery of Catania is considered one of the largest monastic complexes in Europe .

After a skilful restoration, the Monastery today houses the University’s Department of Human Sciences and can be visited thanks to a nice guided tour. This allows you to retrace the 500 years of life of this place that hosted the monks and then barracks, schools, up to the current destination . Before visiting, we recommend reading De Roberto’s “ I Vicerè ”, the story of a family from Catania after the unification of Italy. There is no shortage of references to this place, with monks painted as gourmets (they cooked and ate a lot), they distributed leftovers to theirs lovers with their children while the servants resold what little remained … Today the Monastery is a cultural space where exhibitions, workshops, conferences managed by the Cultural Workshops Association take place.

Excursions on Etna in Catania

Etna is the highest active volcano in Europe that never ceases to give spectacles of lava and fire. For those passing through Catania, therefore, it is a must to get closer to the volcano to look at it more closely.

Those who want to see it much closer can take advantage of the many excursions offered by tour operators, agencies and individual tourist guides. But what can you see and do while climbing Etna? It depends on your tastes. You can visit the Valle del Bove, the summit craters, there are about 200 caves used since ancient times as a refuge , cemeteries, sacred places, to store snow and so on. Then you can go on excursions by jeep , downhill skiing, walking , or a more comfortable panoramic tour with the Circumetnea Railway that goes around the lower ring of the volcano.

What to eat in Catania