City Art Tour Catania

Located in the centre of the Mediterranean Sea, the Port of Catania was first built in 1438. Repeatedly rebuilt over the centuries, today it is one of the most important ports in Sicily. With a total surface area of 615,000 m2, the Port is home to a variety of different activities

It’s the main square in Catania; via Etnea, Via Vittorio Emanuele and Via Garibaldi, the three main roads of the old town, cross in this place. It is surrounded by many monuments and in its centre is placed the famous “Elephant’s fontain”, built by Gianbattista Vaccarini.

To admire the square and its monuments, sit at one of the historic bar where you can taste the local cuisine.

Between via Teatro Greco and via Vittorio Emanuele there are the Roman Theatre and the Odeon. Some people assumed that their building dates back to II sec. AD, and that the theatre was carried out on a pre-existing Greek Age structure.

It is one of the few places in Catania where you can see Amenano river.

Via Crociferi is one of the oldest Catania streets in the heart of the city, it starts in Piazza San Francesco D’Assisi through the famous St. Benedict triumphal arch. It is considered the symbol of Baroque in Catania, because there are some of the most beautiful eighteenth-century churches of the city.

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.

It’s located not far from Piazza Duomo, along the via Etnea, Piazza Università takes its name from the Siculorum Gymnasium also known as Palazzo Università. The characteristic of this square are the four bronze lamps positioned at its four corners depicting characters of folk tales from Catania.

To spend a pleasant night out, in summer, sit at one of the tables in Piazza Università. Enjoy it!

The Massimo Bellini Theatre is the place where it stages the opera. During its opening, in 1890, it was staged the representation of ‘Norma’ by Vincenzo Bellini. The central hall is composed of four tiers of stages and galleries on which dominates the evocative fresco.

After the terrible earthquake in 1693, the remains of the former San Placido’s Monastery and the oldest Platamone’s palace were integrated each other to realize the Palazzo della Cultura. The palace still presents some elements in late medieval style.

The Palazzo Valle is perhaps the most beautiful baroque buildings designed by the famous architect Gianbattista Vaccarini. From 2004, Fondazione Puglisi Cosentino is in the inner courtyard, at the second and third floor of the baroque palace, hosting permanent and temporary exhibitions.