6 days in Sicily-09/24 - 09/29/2017

Catania- Day 2- walking around-09/25/2017

 

Once we are done with visiting the Catania Cathedral and we headed north to see the town and take a look at many historical buildings.

Straight ahead is Via Etna, the main shopping street.

 

Via Etna which is reserved for pedestrians only.  It is a lively streets with lots of tourists and locals.

Via Etnea runs straight from Piazza del Duomo up to the foothills below Etna. 

Behind us is via Etna

 

University of Catania

The University of Catania (Università degli Studi di Catania) was founded in 1434, and is the oldest university in Sicily, the 13th oldest in Italy, and the 29th oldest university in the world. With a population of over 60,000 students, it is the main university in Sicily.

 

Convitto Cutelli, Catania

Convitto Cutelli is considered a jewel of eighteenth-century architecture of Catania. It exemplifies the specific architecture that appeared in this city after the devastating earthquake in the 17th century. The main façade of the building was built in neoclassical style. There is a circular courtyard, a big clock tower and a monumental marble staircase that leads to the halls. The grandeur architecture of this building reflects the harmony between forms and design.

 

 

Basilica Collegiata also known as Santa Maria dell'Elemosina is a church in Catania.

The church was built in the early 18th century, after the earthquake of 1693 that had destroyed most of the city.

 

This church is a beautiful example of Sicilian Baroque architecture.

 

 

 Teatro Massimo Bellini

Teatro Massimo Bellini is an opera house named after the local-born composer Vincenzo Bellini.  It was inaugurated on 31 May 1890 with a performance of the composer's masterwork, Norma.

 

The facade of Teatro Massimo Bellini

 

Architecturally, the building is a magnificent example Sicilian Baroque style.

It was closed when we got so we did not have a chance to see the interior.

 

Piazza Vincenzo Bellini

In the middle of the Piazza Vincenzo Bellini is the Fontana dei Delfini (Fountain of the dolphins).

The Fountain of the Dolphins was formerly located in the courtyard of the Abbey of St. Agatha but was later dismantled and moved to the garden Bellini.

 

 The fountain made with a local white stones was placed on a base of three semi circular steps.

 

Only two of the four dolphins placed on the top of the fountain belong to the original design: the others were carved by Salvatore Giordano after the reconstruction that took place in 1952.

 

 

We are now walking away from the Piazza Vincenzo Bellini

 

Piazza Carlo Alberto takes its name from the Piedmontese King of the nineteenth century. It is located in the historical center of Catania.

There is an open market there... we spend a bit of time there buying flip flops but I did not take any pictures there.

 

Piazza Stesicoro

Piazza Stesicoro is one of the main and popular squares of the Old Town because its central location and its proximity to the typical market of “Fera o’ Luni“.
Piazza Stesicoro takes its name from the Greek poet Stesichorus who was buried here in Roman times.

 


On East stands the monument dedicated to the composer Vincenzo Bellini created by the sculptor Giulio Monteverde in 1882.
 

 

  

Via A. Di Sangiuliano

It is a cool street with lots of steps going uphill.

 

We are now back to Via Etna.

Small street converging into Via Etna

Buildings on Via Etna

We are now back to Piazza Duomo,  Straight ahead, pass the Porta Uzeda gate is the fish Market.

On the left is the Catania Cathedral.

 

Badia Sant'Agata (Nuns Church).

 On the north side of the Catania cathedral is the church of the nuns convent of St. Agatha, built between 1735 and 1767, and is the principal work of Giovanni Battista Vaccarini. The massive building, dominated by a huge octagonal dome, is fronted by a superb facade, the middle section of which is concave in shape.

 

Facade of Badia Sant'Agata, built in the typical style of the Sicilian baroque.

It is considered to be the masterpiece of the architect Giovanni Battista Vaccarini and was built after the earthquake of 1693 on the ruins of the previous church.

Beautiful entrance flanked by tall colonnades and really stands out because of the eight-sided dome rooftop.

 

We are now in the garden of the Catania Church.

In the back ground is the Nun's church which you can recognized with the dome rooftop.

 

 

Loan and I in the garden of the Catania Cathedral with the statue of St Agatha, the patron of Catania behind us.

The statue is surrounded by trees of the Cathedral's garden.

 

As we move further down there is a public park next to the fish market with a large fountain in the center and century-old trees.

 

This park is fairly small but it is charming with mostly local folks.

 

We are now back at the fish market just in time to grab a quick lunch.

 

Our landlord recommend Scirocco and he described as the only seafood fast food that he knows of in Catania.

We arrived at noon and we were told they will need another 10 minutes to take our order.  The food is fry to order so the food is piping hot and fresh.

 

This is a really casual place with tables set on the sidewalk, first come first serve.  They have probably 6 or 8 tables.

Menu is on the right hand side, all seafood and it is really cheap.

Marinated octopus-so delicious and so fresh you can smell the sea.... €4

We also ordered a Sicilian bitter orange and a lemonade -€2 per bottle.

On the left is a sea cone with fish bones € 7,00 -(Squid, Shrimp, Sword fish, Fish of the day)

On the right is a Land Sea Cone € 5,00(vegetables in batter, Fava bean stick, arancina (rice ball) with fish.

 

Next...Taormina

 

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