Le Ciminiere

The Chimneys (Le Ciminiere), hence the name of the exhibition center, were the chimneys to disperse the fumes from Sulphur factories placed in East area near to Catania Central station.

Around the remains of the nineteenth-century industrial complex, an operation for redevelopment of the area, it was built a multi-purpose center for trade fairs, exhibitions and congresses.

Its 25,000 square meters make it the largest exhibition center in Catania, and its “strategic” position makes it easily accessible.

The exhibition center also hosts some permanent exhibitions, such as exposure of the Landing in Sicily in 1943 (retracesing the steps and the fighting of Second World War in Sicily through period photographs, recorded testimonies, authentic artifacts, scale models) and the Film Museum, telling about “the invention of cinema“, starting from technical developments to stylistic and formal ones.

It’s interesting Portrait Gallery (about the relationship Cinema-Sicily) hosting the important contributions of directors, screenwriters and actors of the last century.

Not to be missed the permanent exhibition of the ancient maps of Sicily (La Gumina collection): 143 maps realised between fifteenth and nineteenth century. There are also thematic maps with archeological and religious places of interest, and also nautical maps and pocket atlases. There is also the museum of the vintage radios which shows the collection of Francesco Romeo. An unique opportunity for retracing the milestones of telecommunications history.