The next morning, we drove 45 minutes to Catania. Again, we followed Rick Steves' tour.
The walk starts at Porta Uzeda. Water used to come up to the city gate and boats would unload their cargo. The stench offended the officials so the port was filled in.
On the other side is Villa Giovanni Pacini, a nice park.
Nearby is a vegetable market
and a fish market
Enter the Porta Uzeda to find the Catania Cathedral or Cattedrale di Sant'Agata. Sant'Agata is the patron saint of Catania and the patron saint of breast cancer, wet nurses, fire and eruptions. She made a vow of virginity and her breasts were excised with pincer when she refused the romantic advances of Quintanius. She is often depicted holding her breasts on a plate.
Inside is a glass casket of a mummified Cardinal Dusmet, beloved by the locals for his devotion to the poor.
Piazza del Duomo is the main square in Catania. it is dominated by an Elephant Statue with an obelisk on his back.
Catania's City Hall also sits in Piazza del Duomo.
Step inside to see some coaches.
as well as a poster of the Sant'Agata procession held annually in February.
Fontana dell'Amenano sits in a corner on the piazza. Under the fountain is the underground Amenano River.
Palazzo dei Chierici is a municipal building that was once a seminary.
The Prestipinc Cafe sits in another corner of Piazza del Duomo.
They sell Minnuze di Sant'Agata--"breasts of Sant Agata." They're small rounded cakes with ricotta, marzipan and a cherry on top.
Continuing on the tour, we reached Piazza Mazzini, which was constructed after the 1693 earthquake. It provides an open space where people can gather should there be another earthquake.
Chiesa di S. Francesco d'Assissi all'Immacolata holds some of the floats used during the annual Sant'Agata procession. There was a wedding on the day of our visit so we couldn't peek inside.
Chiesa di San Benedetto
Monastero di San Benedetto
Chiesa San Francesco Borgia
Chiesa di San Giuliano
Entrance to the Roman Amphitheater.
The ruins of the Amfiteatro Romano--it may have seated 15,000.
Chiesa San Biagio in Sant'Agata alla Fornace is said to be the place where Sant'Agata was burned.
If you pay €1, the guide will move the barrier and allow you to peek behind the altar to see the furnace where Sant'Agata was reportedly burned.
S. Agata al Carcere is purportedly where Sant'Agata was imprisoned.
The prison
Universita degli Studi--one of the buildings of the University of Catania.
"Liotru" street art by Salvo Ligama
2022 04 20
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