Catania Tourism

Piazza Armenina

by GUYON

see the Villa del Casale at Piazza Armenina (part 2)
I ignore if the erotic pics are available on VT.
This one has the advantage to be ancient and widely broadcasted. It is a mosaic which is on the pavement of the main slipping room (they did not watch TV).
The scene is reprinted on the t-shirts, the cards and the other souvenirs sold in the surrounding gift shops.

Add to Your Trip Planner | Post a Question | Write a Tip

Visiting Catania?

Read reviews about Catania Hotels

Real Reviews from Real VirtualTourist Members.


	Villa del Casale Tip Rating:

Updated By GUYON on November 12, 2002

Villa del casale

by GUYON

see the Villa del Casale at Piazza Armenina (provincia di Enna).
Built at the end of the Imperial period, this Villa was inhabited by a rich roman family during the 4° and 5° centuries. They used to go hunting from there.
After, came the Bisantins, the Sarrasins, the Normands. At the 12° century, the villa desapeared covered by mud.
These ruins are wordly known because of the 3500 sqm of mosaic which decorate the pavement. You can visit the Villa and see the mosaics using a labyrinth of footbridges.
Our 2O° century, which is terminating, has not invented the bathing suit. It was already existing at the beginning of our era as this mosaic shows. On my knowledge, it is the sole example of presentation of antic bikinis in the Roman culture.

Add to Your Trip Planner | Post a Question | Write a Tip


	Visit Taorminia Tip Rating:

Updated By GUYON on November 12, 2002

Taorminia

by GUYON

visit Taorminia. It is a small antic town on the sea-side. Known as one of the most beautifull places of Sicily, you can have a walk in the streets of which houses are covered by flowers. You can also sit in 'terrazza' at a coffee shop to drink an 'espresso' or a cool drink.
Nevertheless, do not come at Taorminia to be alone : it is a touristy place.

Add to Your Trip Planner | Post a Question | Write a Tip


	Etna : the most active volcano in Europe Tip Rating:

Updated By GUYON on July 30, 2005

Etna

by GUYON

Climb at the top of Etna.
The vulcano is still active and it has an eruption each year or each two years. But, fortunatly, there is no recent big eruption able to reach Catania, which is at only 50 Kilometers, as it occurred in the past.
There were, here and there, sulphur smokes (not a pleasant perfume).
Very impressive landscape.
You can climb alone or with a guide but it is better to pay the coach to go to the mid-slope. It is dangerous to go to the crater without guide. The Etna is 3350 m ca high and the temperature is low even in Summer.

More to see in the Travelogue

Add to Your Trip Planner | Post a Question | Write a Tip


	Anfiteatro Romano and San... Tip Rating:

By LysDor on September 12, 2002

by LysDor

Anfiteatro Romano and San Biagio church

As one of the first Greek colonies, Catania was already founded in the year 729 a.d.. Not until the Roman epoch, the city became a bigger importance. Nowadays, only the ruins of the Amphitheater remember of the ancient past.

Add to Your Trip Planner | Post a Question | Write a Tip

Visiting Catania?

Read reviews about Catania Hotels

Real Reviews from Real VirtualTourist Members.


	Il Duomo -The cathedral of... Tip Rating:

By LysDor on September 12, 2002

by LysDor

Il Duomo -The cathedral of Saint Agatha
Erected in 1092 and work of Giovan Battista Vaccarini, it was remade in 1169 and also after the earthquake of 1693.

On the piazza there were several artists painting - ME - standing beside that Elephant fountain :-) or was it the church or the statue...LOL?!

That curious fountain has two of the ancient treasures of Catania, that survived the earthquake. One of them is a large elephant made of volcanic rock. Its origin is a mystery.

Add to Your Trip Planner | Post a Question | Write a Tip


	Piazza Universita and Statue... Tip Rating:

By LysDor on September 12, 2002

by LysDor

Piazza Universita and Statue of Bellini
Bellini was a famous Sisilian composer whose death has been investigated by a French doctor. He claims the composer was poisoned by the jealous husband of one of the many Parisian women he had an affair with. The rather more prosaic truth is that he died of a gastric infection, nowadays curable with two simple pills.

Add to Your Trip Planner | Post a Question | Write a Tip


	Saint Francesco Borgia This... Tip Rating:

By LysDor on September 12, 2002

by LysDor

Saint Francesco Borgia
This baroque church as the following one are both on Via Crociferi where you can find at the same time staircases, either simple or with landings, balustrades, staircases topped by marble statues, arched pilasters, classical columns, domes, decorations, loggias, Simetan marble fountains on Parisian marble pilasters. There are bronze reliefs, cornices, stairs with railings, capitals and architraves, which all together make this street the backbone of Catanese baroque!

Add to Your Trip Planner | Post a Question | Write a Tip


	Saint Giuliana Church ' The... Tip Rating:

By LysDor on September 12, 2002

by LysDor

Saint Giuliana Church
' The highlight of Via Crociferi in artistic terms is this particular Church, a masterpiece of 18th-century religious architecture. It has a curvilinear facade and is built to an elliptical plan.

Add to Your Trip Planner | Post a Question | Write a Tip


	San Francesco e... Tip Rating:

By LysDor on September 12, 2002

by LysDor

San Francesco e l'Immacolata
Via Crociferi is lined with an extraordinary variety of churches...

Let's admire these tremendious architectural baroque beauties...