Catania daughter of Etna: the triumph of life and baroque

Catania is the second largest and most important city in Sicily. Its fate is inextricably linked with the sea and Mount Etna. From the sea came conquerors, including the founders of the Greek city. Thanks to the activity of Mount Etna, both the territory on which the city stands and the material from which it was built arose.

Catania can rightly be called a hero city, reborn from the ashes, like the Phoenix bird. Earthquakes, eruptions and wars each time only strengthened the spirit of the inhabitants, since ancient times, steadily believed in the protection of gods and saints.

Modern Catania is best known for its Baroque architecture, Sicily’s oldest university, vibrant and bustling nightlife and, of course, stunning views of Mount Etna. Few people know that Catania has much more to offer than the naked eye. The city with almost 3 thousand years of history keeps the memory of the Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Arabs, baked in black basalt and hidden under a thick cultural layers. Only the eye of the attentive traveler reveals the secrets of ancient Catania: Roman theaters, baths, aqueducts, Byzantine chapels, underground rivers and wells, bastions, turned into the foundations of houses.

Another important aspect of Catania is its urban folklore and devotion to St. Agatha the Heavenly Patroness, who, according to legend, has repeatedly saved the inhabitants in awkward situations, whether it is a volcanic eruption or the evil intent of man. The saint extended a helping hand and punished the intruders. That is why there are countless churches and churches dedicated to Agatha in the city. Historical market "Peskeria" - one of the favorite places both locals and tourists, invariably surprised by the richness of counters and the impressiveness of sellers.

Catania is also an important cultural center. Its most important object is the opera house named after Vincenzo Bellini, a world-famous composer who glorified his homeland. “The Swan” – so called the composer for the elegance of his works – was born in Catania in 1801 and is now buried in the Dome Cathedral.

With the list of objects offered to visit, you can read in detail on my website.