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Sighseeing

Casa di verga

At present a museum, Casa di Verga was the former home of the famous local son Giovanni Verga. Verga was a poet and a hothead who wrote with ardour and asperity about the difficult life of the low-paid workers during the Industrial revolution. Compared to Bellini's museum, which is just a few blocks away, this one, is rather shabby and not-very-well-stocked.

Duomo

Catania's Duomo is built in respect to the memory of St. Agatha. It is situated in the heart of the city. Originally built under the command of the Norman king - Roger I, the cathedral was ruined after the earthquake of 1693 and had to be rebuilt again. The reconstruction work was done by the famous Battista Vaccarini, who also redesigned a large part of the city, after the calamity. Vaccarini brought huge granite columns from the city's roman amphitheatre and integrated them in the façade of the Duomo. The only thing that endured the earthquake, were the lava-made medieval apses.

Palazzo Biscari

Palazzo Biscari is at present a private residence. In the past, the structure was the most imposing palace in the city. It was built after the major 1693 earthquake and flourished during the 18th century.

The palace is built partly adjoining the historic fortress wall of the city. It is decorated with lovely putti and statues of caryatids. The balconies are designed by father and son - Battaglia. There is a lovely patio garden with a stairwell..

Chiesa di San Nicolò All'Arena

The biggest church on the island, Chiesa di san Nicolo All'Arena is popularly referred to by the locals as the "mastodon". It extends 105m with transepts measuring 42m and dome rising 62m high. The construction was initiated by Giovanni Contini and was later reformed by Francesco Battaglia. The cupola and the façade with its impressive colossal pillars were designed by Stefan Ittar. The cathedral's inner heart looks a bit bare-bone and spooky..

Piazza Duomo

Piazza Duomo was designed by the same architect that designed most of the city after the unfortunate earthquake in 1693. The piazza reflects all the elegance and baroque sophistication of this period. Apart from the massive Duomo, it houses a lovely fountain - Fontana dell'Elefante - considered the symbol of Catania.