Catania

A square as the heart of the city

The project for the new roads of Catania was designed by the master engineer Giuseppe Vespa, likely under the supervision of the famous engineer Carlos de Grunenbergh and, in collaboration with the Duke of Camastra , the decision was made to reorganise the city and adopt Piazza Duomo as the focal point.
Piazza inquadrando l'elefante punto centraleIt was then that Catania was reborn. The new square was larger and wider than the former Platea Magna .
Both religious and secular powers were represented in this building; the cathedral was rebuilt on the site of the old church, whose apses had remained standing. The Archbishop’s Palace, the Seminary Palace of the Clerics and the Senatorial Palace were then built.
In the centre is the Fontana dell'Elefante (Fountain of the Elephant), now a symbol of the city, which was designed by architect Giovanni Battista Vaccarini and unveiled in 1737. The obelisk, brought from Egypt and placed on top of the elephant, is 3.61 metres tall.
On the top was placed a globe featuring a cross and the initials of St. Agatha, the city’s patron saint .
Palazzo Senatorio Fontana dell'Elefante Obelisco
Beneath the elephant, finally, is a pedestal with statues of the two rivers of Catania, the Amenano and the Simeto.
dettaglio fiume Amenano elefante obelisco fiume Simeto elefante obelisco
The end result is a breathtaking square.
The alternating use of dark grey lava stone with white limestone creates surprising contrast. A perfect example of this can be found in the cathedral or senatorial palace.
Effects of light and shadow complete and accentuate the contrasts of the square, reminiscent of a theatre stage.

The cathedral of Sant’Agata: a lengthy reconstruction

A city in colour

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

A miniature city

The two churches

The church of Carmine

A half-Baroque church

A prominent church

The senses tell the Benedictine Monastery and San NicoIò l’Arena

Church of San Giuliano (St. Julian) on Via dei Crociferi: reconstruction

A design by Vincenzo Sinatra

An eagle-shaped city

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Giuliano ai Crociferi

Baroque and the loss of equilibrium in the 16th century

Garden of Novices and the restorations by Giancarlo De Carlo

Some prestigious works

Wonderful quick decorations

The Barresi-Branciforte lords

Searching for colour

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Benedetto

The colours of the cathedral

Feast days

One city, two sites

A small room with a golden entrance

The Benedictine Monastery, one of the largest in Europe

Corbels: a celebration of the Nicolaci family

A feast only for Scicli

The character of Badia Sant’Agata

A long reconstruction

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

The Burgos crucifix

A new palace for the La Rocca lords

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Giovanni Evangelista

Discovering the mother church

A symbol for the town

The kitchen, a treasure chest of colours

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Sebastiano

Militello, the story of an enlightened fiefdom

The Baroque town by the sea

San Nicolò l’Arena: an unfinished church

The senses tell the Cathedral of Sant’Agata

The senses tell about Palazzo Napolino Tommasi Rosso

Freedom of worship and the role of the Catholic Church in the diffusion of Baroque

Palazzo Nicolaci di Villadorata, who is the architect?

The senses tell about Palazzo La Rocca

Places of knowledge: the Benedictines’ library

A new site for a new city

The façade used as a puppet theatre

The Staircase of Angels

A Nobel Prize in Modica

Two illustrious patron saints

The wall comes to life

The internal colours

Some masterpieces

Prominent façade

The interior and its masterpieces

The senses tell the story of the staircase of Santa Maria del Monte

The theatre of taste

The Supernatural dimension of the chapel of the Santissimo Sacramento

The Maiolica of the staircase

The senses tell the story of the church of Santa Maria del Carmelo

The city of museums

A square as the heart of the city

One city, three sites

Connections with other UNESCO sites

A majestic and luminous church

The senses tell the story of the church of San Giuseppe

Modica, a city with ancient origins

The senses tell the Mother Church of San Nicolò and of the Santissimo Salvatore

The Infiorata, a feast of colours and flowers

A hall for the feasts

St. Sebastian, so much work!

A museum to save a tradition

The senses tell about Palazzo Nicolaci

A new entrance for Santa Chiara (St. Claire)

The chocolate of Modica

The senses tell the story of the Church of the Annunciation

Many owners, one palace

A new site for a new church

From the contrast of the exterior to the internal jubilation of colours

San Benedetto: a treasure reopened to the public

A talking palace

Rosario Gagliardi, the maestro of the Val di Noto

From St. Thomas to St. Joseph

A colourful floor

The senses tell the story of the church of San Giovanni Battista

The senses tell the story of the Badia di Sant’Agata

Limestone, the colour of harmony

The Feast of San Giacomo (St. James)

Fontana della Ninfa Zizza, public water in the town

New roads for Catania

The disastrous earthquake

A triumph of colour

St. Agatha and the giant candelabras

The role of the religious orders in rebuilding the Val di Noto

Norman apses

Feasting in Palazzolo

Between white and black

From International Gothic to present day