Catania Favorites

Favorite thing: Beautiful cathedral in the Piazza Duomo. Constructed between 1070 and 1093. G. Palazzolo and architect G. B. Vaccarini restored the cathedral after a 1693 earthquake. Dedicated to the martyred Agata it also has relics inside.

Favorite thing: 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.

Favorite thing: 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.

Favorite thing: 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.

Favorite thing: Visit the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento just before the light starts to go.

Fondest memory: The 'Festa del mandorlo in fiori' in Agrigento. There were people in brightly coloured clothing from much of the world in procession through the city and a terrific firework display and concert on the last day - end of second week in february.

Favorite thing: Via Etnea - Main shopping street

A lot of high fashion boutiques and shoe shops.

This coffee shop was on that same street and served unbelievable good cappuccino!

Favorite thing: 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.

Favorite thing: 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.