Catania

Picturesque and noisy, Catania is the city of volcano. Dark and closed like a grumpy god, Etna dominates Sicily, enlivening the city’s streets, and symbolizing an intrinsic characteristic of the hard working people of Catania.

The people  symbolize the city with their strong belief in the saint Agatha- a virgin and martyr, capable of halting the fury of Etna with the supernatural force of her veil. Catania is a dark city, built with black volcano stone, yet is it sunny and luminous, representing the perfect balance.

Was founded on the ruins of Siculo Burgh by Chalcidian settlers in 729 BC. Its name means “Hill”, and indeed the acropolis was built on a hill, in the area now occupied by the big Benedictine monasty. In time, arose temples, a hippodrome, a gymnasium, an odeon, aqueducts, and thermae.

In Catania you can visit: The Elephant Fountain, the Cathedral of St. Agatha, Ursino Castle, Odeon, Badia of St. Agatha Church,  and the Roman amphitheatre.