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Catania
Standing in the ominous shadow of Mount
Etna, Catania is a city of lava. Catania is dramatically situated
between the Ionian Sea and Mount Etna, Europe's greatest active
volcano. Catania is called the "city of black and white." White
plaster and marble and black lava form major parts of its
architectural adornment. One of the most significant events which
shaped Catania was the earthquake of 1693, which devasted most of
south-eastern Sicily. The town was re-built in the Baroque style, and
it was during this era that many of the town's finest buildings came
into being. Founded by Greek colonists, Katane was subsequently
conquered by Syracuse and then, during the Punic Wars, by the Romans.
One of the best Roman structures that can still be seen is the Roman
Theatre in Via Vittorio Emanuele, surrounded by later buildings.
The lava-and-marble Roman Amphitheatre, part of which can be
seen in Piazza Stesicoro, dates to the second century AD. Among
Catania's more recent sights are the many Baroque churches and palazzi,
including the heavily-peopled facade of Palazzo Biscari. The Museo
Civico in the stumpy grey fortress of Castello Ursino (1239-1250)
houses a range of exhibits from all eras of Catania's history.
Piazza del Duomo is Catania's principal square, at the end of busy Via
Etnea (named for the volcano), and most of the town's tourist
attractions are close by. In the centre is a much-photographed
eighteenth-century lava statue of an elephant, supporting an Egyptian
obelisk. To honor Vincenzo Bellini (1801-35),
Catania boasts one of Italy's grandest opera houses, where you can
hear the operas and the eternal arias of this virtuoso composer. Its
second hometown boy who made good was the writer
Giovanni Verga (1840-1922). |
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