Amenano river

Culture, Tipical places
Piazza Duomo - 95100 Catania

    The Amenano is a perennial current river; it flows into the sea in the Gulf of Catania. The Greeks believed that it was a deity enough to affect its “Mythological face” (a bull with a human head) on some coins of the fifth century BC.

    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: the first branch, starting from the Hill Majorana passes under the Benedictine Monastery, coming to the fish market leads to the sea in the Port area.

    The second branch, which runs beneath the Greek Theatre and Via Vittorio Emanuele go to Piazza Duomo where fuel the “fontana dell’acqua o linzolu” and then flows into the sea.
    The third path of the river flowing under the Villallegra well and the Saint Julian Monastery, reaching the sea.

    Originally, the river flowed on the surface, feeding, before the eruption of the Etna in 252 BC, the Nicito lake. The materials emitted during volcanic eruptions caused the subsequent coverage of some sections of the river which was finally buried by the eruption of 1669.

    It has then 36 canals that disappeared under lava reduced them just to 7, there are called the “seven canals” that make up the fountain Fish Market fountain.