Piazza Duomo, Catania

Catania is the city where I learned to love the Baroque. To paraphrase a hammy line from Disney, I used to say: if it's Baroque, FIX IT! Not anymore. All those embellishments and flutings enriching those chill classical lines... oh yes.

Piazza Duomo is the heart of the city's 'Centro'. To the South, through the Porta Uzeda, is the port of Catania, to the north Via Etnea slopes up towards the volcano and the more urban part of town. All around you are Vaccarini's heavy black and grey lava-stone buildings, all rebuilt after the earthquake of 1693 destroyed the city.

Things of interest here and nearby: The Duomo. The Elephant Statue, The 'Lenzuolo' Fountain, The Fish Market, Via Etnea, Porta Uzeda, Museo Diocesiano Catanese.

The Duomo of Catania is dedicated to St. Agatha (Agata), and houses her relics. Her festival is by far the most important civic event in the city, as well as one of the biggest and most elaborate Catholic saint's festivals in the entire world.

It is often refered to as a 'Fortress Cathedral', as it played an integral part as watchtower and its southern wall is in fact a part of the city's ancient defensive wall.
It too was rebuilt by Vaccarini after the earthquake of 1693, as the integral centerpiece of the piazza, although remains of the Norman cathedral that preceded it are still visible on the interior (the pointed Norman arches of the transept).

Interesting things inside: the relics of St. Agatha, the Body of Cardinal Dusmet, the Tomb of Vincenzo Bellini.

Interesting things nearby: see Piazza Duomo.

4 more images

This is the main Piazza, the heart of Catania, with the city’s symbol monument the fountain with the Elephant. The city’s cathedral with the Chapel of Sant’Agata faces this square. Via Etnea starts from Piazza Duomo.

I took this lovely photo of the Piazza Duomo from my hotel room because our hotel was right in the centre of Catania. The Cathedral is dedicated to St. Agatha and in here you can see her relics and other tombs of other important persons.

One of the main square in Catania, just off of Via Etnea. There's the 18th century elephant fountain made from lava supporting an Egyptian obelisk on its back and also the Municipio dating to 1741 built by Giovanni Battista Vaccarini.

The Piazza del Duomo lies in the center of Catania. Here you will find an old square as well as a medieval cathedral.

The Duomo is one of Catania's grandest sights. The facade dates from the Baroque rebuilding of the town, although some of the earlier church did survive the earthquake.

I had a chance to sit in the Piazza at a little cafe across the Piazza from the Duomo. People watching is easy from here and we saw a funeral as well.