Culture

The “Pescheria” (Piscaria in Sicilian language) is the old fish market in Catania, which still retains and preserves the ancient folklore. Among the oldest monuments of the city, it extends the fish market. So many people crowd it all day. … read more

Every year Catania dedicate to its patron Saint Agatha a grand feast, it’s a mixture of faith and folklore, which involves directly several thousand faithful, who are engaged in towing the “fercolo”, and regulary it attracts tourists, onlookers and devotees. … read more

The Elephant’s fountain or even “Liotru’s fountain” was built by Gianbattista Vaccarini in 1757. In the basement there are some carved cherubs and two bas-reliefs representing the city’s two rivers, the Simeto and the Amenano. For people of Catania it is ‘u Liotru’. … read more

In front of the Elephants’ Palace, the Town Hall, on the south side of Piazza Duomo you can see the Amenano’s fountain, its name derives from the Amenano river that flows underground. People of Catania call this marble fountain: ‘acqua o’ linzolu’. … read more

The Amenano is a perennial current river; it flows into the sea in the Gulf of Catania. Its path is now underground and its mouth is located at the center of town near the Uzeda gate of Catania. The river splits into three little rivers. … read more

Next to the Cathedral, overlooking Via Vittorio Emanuele there is the St. Aghata’s Abbey. The Abbey was completed in 1735 and some critics think that this building is the architect Vaccarini’s masterpiece. A jewel realized in Sicilian baroque style. … read more

BOCS is a new space outside of traditional exhibition circuits. It is the first “artist run space” in Catania to be officially established. A “raw” and versatile container where artistic productions interact all-round. A space run only by artists. … read more

The Sanctuary of the Madonna of Valverde is one of the oldest in Sicily. According to legend it was built in 1038 after the Madonna appeared to a bandit. The entry is made of white stone and inside are altars dedicated to Our Lady of the Rosary, Our Lady of Mount Carmel and the Holy Family. … read more

The Public Library Ursino Recupero is in the ancient Benedectine library and was established in 1931 following the acquisition of the collection of books of Antonio Ursino Recupero. It keeps more than 270,000 volumes. … read more

It’s located in Piazza Santo Carcere, where, in the centre, flourishes the olive tree that is dedicated to one of the St. Agatha legend’s, to the east of the Spanish bastion (the rest of the Charles V’s walls) a short staircase leads to the Church of Saint Aghata in the Prison. … read more

One of the largest in Sicily, St. Nicholas’ Church has a long and troubled history. The original building dates from the late sixteenth century, but before the lava flow in 1669 and then the earthquake in1693 destroyed it completely. … read more

The eighteenth-century church of St. Francesco d’Assisi is also known as St. Francesco l’Immacolata. The church hosts great holy art works and it is the “caretaker” of six “candelore”, which goes along the streets during St. Agatha celebrations. … read more

Saint Francesco Borgia’s church is located in the scenic via Crociferi, next to the Saint Benedict’s one. It was built around the eighteenth century and presents a linear neoclassical style, the facade is in white marble and is developing into two rows of columns. … read more

St. Blaise Church it’s located in piazza Stesicoro, it overlooks on the Roman amphitheatre’s ruins. Even this construction, whose original structure dates back to 1098, was rebuilt in the eighteenth century after the earthquake of 1693. … read more

The St. Placido’s Church is placed near the Cathedral. The original structure of this building, that is dated back to 1409 and was built on the ruins of an ancient pagan temple, was completely destroyed by the earthquake in 1693. … read more

It’s located in the charming and characteristic via Crociferi, it’s seen by many as the “pearl” of the eighteenth century city’s reconstruction. Although this building is attributed to Vaccarini’skill and was probably built between 1739 and 1751. … read more

The church of “San Gaetano alle grotte” is located in Piazza Carlo Alberto, near the church best known as “del Carmelo”, where it is organized the traditional “a’ fera o luni”. The church stands on the ruins of a religious building dating back to 261 AD. … read more

It’s located at the beginning of via Crociferi, the Saint Benedict’s Church is an example of late baroque architecture in Catania. It was rebuilt immediately after the earthquake in 1693 with the S. Benedict’s arch, that was erected in 1704. … read more

It’s one of the oldest churches in the city, in fact, the original structure was probably built in the early centuries AD. After the earthquake in 1693, the Church was destroyed almost all and it was rebuilt by Antonio Amato, who modified it. … read more