|
La Cucaracha Beach
This beach is one of the
most popular in Catania, and regularly draws huge crowds in the summers.
Like most beaches in the area, it offers clean sands, warm waters and a
wide variety of nearby facilities.
|
|
|
Cathedral
First built in the 12th
century and rebuilt or remodelled over the centuries, the cathedral is
best known as the resting place for the relics of Saint Agatha, the
city's patron saint, and the tomb of Sicily's most famous composer, Vincenzo
Bellini. It is also much photographed for its facade, which was designed
by Battista Vaccarini, who did much work for the civic authorities after
a devastating earthquake leveled much of the city in the 1600s (which is
recorded in a painting in the cathedral itself).
|
|
| Ursino Castle
This coastal fortress was
built on the orders of Emperor Frederick II von Hohenstaufen in the 13th century,
and is one of the few medieval buildings to have survived the great
earthquake and volcanic eruptions of the 16th century, as the
destructive lava flows were diverted by the moat.
|
|
|
Giovanni
Verga's House Museum
This 18th century palace was
once the home of Sicily's famous writer and poet, and is now a memorial
to the man. It contains, among other personal items, a library of over
3000 volumes (a colossal collection at the time) with works from the
many great contemporary authors of the day.
|
|
|
Bellini
Civic Museum (Museo Civico Belliniano)
Once the home of the famous
composer before he made his move to Naples, the house is now a museum to
all things Bellini related, and contains, among other things, some
original musical manuscripts written and signed by the great man
himself.
|
|
|
Biscari Museum (Palazzo Biscari)
Generally considered one of
the most beautiful buildings in the city, this was once the residence of
Prince Biscari and is filled with amazing art works.
|
|
|
Greco-Roman
Theater
Built sometime in 415 BC,
this was the biggest Roman theatre in ancient Sicily, and once housed
gladiators and wild animals from the nearby African coast. Over 7,000
spectators could watch the bloody shows held here and today, it is still
occasionally used to hold concerts.
|
|
|
Via Crociferi
This steet is famed for
having most of the city's churches all within a stone's through of each
other, some dozen buildings in all. Incongruously enough, this is one of
the seedier spots at night.
|
|
|
Mount Etna
One of the most famous
attractions of Sicily is its constantly rumbling volcano, the highest
and most active one in Europe. Day trips out to see the constantly
flowing lava are one of the most popular activities in Sicily.
|
|
|
