catania

The second most populous city in Sicily with its 370,000 inhabitants, Catania has suffered over the centuries various destruction of its architectural heritage because of the frequent eruptions of Mount Etna, the most catastrophic was that of 1693. Most of the monuments dating back to period following that date. But Catania underground owns capital not yet fully explored, are evidence of the Roman amphitheater, the Baths Achilliane and other “recent” discoveries. Catania is a beautiful city, mainly in Baroque style, and is in fact one of the most sought after tourist destinations, as evidenced by the millions of travelers who annually landed in the airport of Catania, which is the first in Sicily and among the first in Italy. Catania is a very lively city, full of places of detention and the “nightlife” all the year certainly does not lack

Local Features

– Historical – Cultural

– Food and wine

Tourism

– Cultural

– seaside

– Sports

– Music

– Artistic

To be seen

– Museums

– Galleries

– Churches

– Convents

– Historical buildings

– Squares

– Monuments

– Fountains

– Doors

– Natural areas

Cathedral

Built in 1093 by Count Roger on the ruins of the Baths Achillane, it was several times destroyed by volcanic eruptions and earthquakes. The current main facade is by Giovan Battista Vaccarini and Jerome Mansion. The Cathedral is dedicated to St. Agatha patron saint of the city. Inside is the tomb of Vincenzo Bellini, great musician Catania (1801-1835) and the reliquary bust and casket with the relics of St. Agatha.

Address: Piazza Duomo – Phone: +39 095 320044

Piazza Duomo

And ‘the main square of the city, this is where it started the reconstruction of the city after the disastrous earthquake of 1693. We come together three very important streets of Catania, Garibaldi street, Etnea street and Vittorio Emanuele street. At the center of the square “u Liotru”, the fountain with the elephant, symbol of the city. Next to the Palace of the Elephants, the town hall.

Palace of the Elephants

The present building was rebuilt after the earthquake of 1693, replacing the previous Senatorial palace of the ‘500, and is the seat of city government.

Address: Piazza Duomo – Phone: +39 095 7421111

Teatro Bellini

It was inaugurated on 31 May 1890 with the representation of Norma by Vincenzo Bellini. The present building is the work of Carlo Sada.

Address: Piazza Bellini – Phone: +39 095 7306111 – 095 7306110 – Opening hours: Info 095 7150921

Castello Ursino

It was built by Frederick II of Swabia between 1239 and 1250. Originally the building was built very close to the sea and was surrounded by a moat and very advanced defensive works. Since 1934 it has become the Civic Museum. Its halls are expounded of Greek and Roman artifacts.

Address: Piazza Federico Di Svevia – Phone: +39 095 345830

Roman amphitheater

It is located in the center of Stesicoro square where there is a large trench that encloses some remains of the Roman amphitheater Catania. Its foundations stretch beneath the modern city buildings. The grandiose Roman monument is one of the largest in Italy. The amphitheater is formed by an auditorium of 14 steps divided into three orders with podium and covered corridors leading to the terraces on three floors that corresponded to the two kinds of exterior and attic arches. Its outer circumference is 309 meters, the circumference of the arena is 192 meters and it is estimated that it could hold 15,000 seated spectators.

There were held fights between gladiators and wild animals from Africa.

Address: Piazza Stesicoro – Phone: +39 095 7472268

Chierici Palace

The first Clerics Seminar was founded in 1572.

Benedictine Monastery

It was founded in 1558.

Address: Piazza Dante, 32 – Phone: 334 9242464-095 7102767 – by visits of “Cultural Workshops”

Church St. Nicholas Arena

The great church of St. Nicholas, which is inspired by the Roman architectural models, it was begun in 1687 and designed by G.B. Contini.

Address: Piazza Dante – Phone: +39 095 7159912

Crociferi street

Crociferi street after the destructive earthquake will become the road that will trace the ecclesiastical authorities to build new monasteries and new churches, in fact, in no more than 200 meters, there are four churches and three monasteries and a college.

Church of the Abbey of St. Agatha

In front of the north of the cathedral prospectus on V. Emanuele street, there is the church of the Abbey of St. Agatha that occupies, together with the annexed former monastery, an entire block.

Address: Via Vittorio Emanuele 184