Teatro Massimo Bellini

Completed in 1890 and created for home grown composer Vincenzo Bellini, Catania’s opera house is appropriately extravagant, from the stucco-and-marble extravagance of the foyer (termed the ridotto) into the glory of the theatre itself, wrapped in four tiers of gilded boxes. Its painted ceiling, even by Ernesto Bellandi, depicts scenes from four of Bellini operas.

La Pescheria

Catania’s raucous fish market, which takes over the roads supporting Piazza del Duomo every workday morning, is pure street theater. Tables groan under the weight of ruby-pink prawns decapitated swordfish and fittings packed with mussels, clams, sea urchins and all manner. Fishmongers gut silvery fish along with housewives that are high heeled step daintily over pools of water. It’s absolutely riveting. Surrounding the market are a range of seafood restaurants that are good. st-known operas.

Monastero delle Benedettine

The Monastero delle Benedettine covers two adjoining sites: some Benedictine convent and the Chiesa di San Benedetto. Best billing goes to the church, assembled between 1704 and 1713 and adorned with stucco, marble and also an altar made from Sicilian jasper. Artworks consist of Giovanni Tuccari ceiling frescoes and a graphic depiction of St Agatha being tortured in the front of some inquisitive sultan.

Piazza del Duomo

Even a Unesco World Heritage Site, Catania’s central piazza is really just a collection of contrasting lava and cherry, surrounded by buildings from the unique local design style and crowned by the grand Cattedrale di Sant’Agata. In its center stands Fontana dell’Elefante (1736), an innocent, smiling black-lava elephant dating from Roman times and surmounted by an improbable Egyptian obelisk. The following fountain at the piazza’s southwest corner, Fontana dell’Amenano, marks the entry into Catania’s fish market.

Via Etnea

This really is one of Europe’s largest monasteries and also an illustration of the wealth enjoyed by the Benedictine order. part of the city university built in 1703, it’s home to two expansive cloisters and a few of Sicily’s most important libraries. Engaging daily guided tours visit the cloisters and library, as well as some other areas closed to the public. Alternatively, you can view the cloisters all on your personal computer. Not all of the tours are in English, so call ahead to confirm tour times that are english language.

Cattedrale di Sant’Agata

Beyond its own impressive marble facade wearing two orders of columns obtained from the Roman amphitheatre, In the vaulted interior of this cathedral, lie on the relics of the town’s patron saint. Its other resident is that the Catanian composer Vincenzo Bellini, his remains moved 41 years after his death from France. Consider Going to the Museo Diocesano Nextdoor to get entrance into the Roman baths right beneath the church.

Chiesa di San Giuliano

Attributed to Sicilian baroque maestro Vaccarini and assembled between 1751 and 1739, the Chiesa di San Giuliano features a tasteful convex facade and, above the portal site, a broken pediment graced by two figures that are female. Capping the church is really a polygonal porch, by that the convent’s cloistered nuns (frequently hailing from noble families) may view the death procession in the feast day of St Agatha. Tours of the church include things like access into the dome loggia, that provides sweeping city views.

Museo Civico

Housed at the brooding 13th century Castello Ursino, Catania museum holds an extensive collection of vases, paintings and palaces, the Biscari collection, along with also an extraordinary coin set. Additionally it is home to a series of 15th- to 19thcentury paintings, together with remarkable works including Jusepe de Ribera’s Profetta, Pietro Novelli’s San Cristoforo and Natale Attanasio’s quietly unnerving Sunt Lacrimae rerum (Crazy Women).

Parco Archeologico Greco Romano

West of the most impressive ruins of Piazza del Duomo lie Catania : the remains of a 2nd century Roman Theatre the Odeon, and its own rehearsal theater. The ruins have been sited from the thick of a residential area, with buildings that may actually have sprouted from the stage that was half-submerged. Adjacent to the main theatre is your CA-SA Liberti (closed Sundays), a richly restored 19th century apartment now dwelling to two millennia values of artefacts discovered during the excavation of the site.

Museo Diocesano

The obvious reason to see this museum, adjacent to Catania’s duomo, will be always to observe that the Fercolo, the famous silver reliquary bust of Saint Agata that is paraded enthusiastically through Catania’s streets every February. But do not miss out the museum’s additional treasures: the Terme Achilliane (Roman baths) directly under the church and the fine views from the roof terrace under the palace’s dome. The museum’s collection of religious paintings includes Antonio Cavallucci’s tender, and glowing Sacra famiglia (Sacred Family; c 1790).

Chiesa Badia di Sant’Agata

By having an elegant facade similar to Borromini, Palermitan architect Giovanni Battista Vaccarini designed this church. The architect’s death in 1768 saw Nicolò Daniele take control end of their interior, their contributions including the dramatic Carrara marble floor along with amber-coloured altars from Castronovo marble. Even the pièce p résistance, however, is that the spectacular panorama from the terrace, which takes from the city’s rooftops and domesalong with an Mt Etna to the north.

Via Crociferi

A lovely, serene spot for a morning walk, Via Crociferi is among Catania’s most attractive streets, famous for its exuberant baroque churches and imposing 18th-century palazzi.

Museo Storico dello Sbarco in Sicilia

The most intriguing museum at Le Ciminiere tradition complex, Museo Storico dello Sbarco in Sicilia sheds light onto the WWII Allied landings at Sicily. Exhibitions are comprehensive, using historical artefacts, multimedia installments, maps and photography to recount the island’s liberation from Nazi occupation. Not all of the data is interpreted in to English. As the primary element calls for a guided tour entry into the museum is on the half hour.

Fontana dell’Elefante

Taking center stage on Catania’s show piece Piazze del Duomo is the town’s many remarkable island, the smiling Fontana dell’Elefante (Fountain of the Elephant; 1736). Dating from the period and made of lava rock, the statue that is comical is of a cute elephant, known locally as Liotru and the symbol of the city. An unlikely Egyptian obelisk, which according to local folklore possesses magical abilities surmounts the statue.

Museo Arte Contemporanea Sicilia

Fresh and old conspire at MACS, a concise, contemporary-art museum inside an abbey of St Benedict’s Monastery. The collection comprises over 70 works, from painting and sculpture to photography and mixed-media bits. Artists hail from mainland Italy, Sicily and areas of Europe, in Addition to states as Argentina, Cuba and Singapore.

Museo Belliniano

One of Italy’s great opera composers, Vincenzo Bellini was born at 1801 in Catania. has been changed to this museum, which houses an exciting collection of memorabilia, including the maestro’s death mask , and initial scores, and photographs, pianos played by Bellini.

Le Ciminiere

Le Ciminiere is a museum complex housed in a converted sulphur refinery. The most fascinating of its own museums is that the Museo Storico dello Sbarco at Sicilia, that exemplifies the history of this WWII Allied landings at Sicily. Also noteworthy is that the Museo del Cinema, that explores the development of movie making and features picture posters, souvenir and classic theater equipment. Museums a side, Le Ciminiere is also home to performance distance Zo.

Chiesa di Sant’Agata al Carcere

The young virgin Agata resisted the progress of this inexplicable Quintian (AD 250) and was horribly mutilated (her breasts were hacked off and her figure rolled in hot flashes ). Where these atrocities were committed under this church, behind the Roman amphitheatre on Piazza 21, you can see the dungeons. Even the saint’s jewel-drenched effigy is venerated February in one of the biggest festivals of Sicily.

Arco di San Benedetto

The Arco di San Benedetto can be an arch built by the Benedictines at 1704. According to legend, it had been built in one night to defy a city ordnance that it had been a seismic liability. On the last past the arch would be the imposing Chiesa di San Benedetto. Built between 1704 and 1713, its interior sings with stucco and marble job.

Museo del Cinema

Located at Le Ciminiere — a sulphur refinery that is converted — the Museo del Cinema investigates the development of moviemaking. Although the selection of memorabilia, movie posters and vintage equipment should engage many exhibition translations are poor. Though all these are just in Italian, informative guided tours have been included in the entrance price.

Fontana dell’Amenano

Separating Piazza del Duomo out of market that is rough and tumble La Pescheria is currently gushing Fontana dell’Amenano, a Carrara-marble fountain created by Neapolitan sculptor Tito Angelini in 1867. The work is a tribute and on whose banks that the Greeks established the town of Katáne.

Palazzo degli Elefanti

Reputation at the end of Unesco-lauded Piazza del Duomo, the’Palace of the Elephants’ is the town hall of Catania. Great Giovanni Battista Vaccarini designed the building facades. The side could be the usage of the contemporary Carmelo Battaglia.

Porta Uzeda

Built to Join Via Etnea to the Interface, Porta Uzeda was commissioned by the Duke of Camastra and completed at 1696. The gate is named in honor of nobleman Juan Francisco Pacheco Téllez-Girón, the Duke of both Uzeda and viceroy of Sicily in 1689 to 1696.

Giardino Bellini

Escape the madding crowd and enjoy the fine views of Mt Etna from those lovely, if unkempt, gardens across Via Etnea. Speckled with fountains and foliage, they’re a popular go to for couples students and locals walking their pooches.

Palazzo dell’Università

Flanking the western border of Piazza dell’Università, this handsome palazzo contains a courtyard designed by Giovanni Battista Vaccarini. The building houses the town school.