6 days in Sicily-09/24 - 09/29/2017

Catania-Day 2- -09/25/2017

Piazza del Duoma (Cathedral square)

Piazza del Duomo is a pedestrian square located in the center of the city of Catania. The square is the very heart of the city, designed by celebrated architect Vaccarini, surrounded by magnificent Baroque buildings.   

 

From the fish market you have to go through Porta Uzeda (Uzeda gate) to the Piazza del Duoma.  Built in 1695 by the Duke of Camastra and was dedicated to the Viceroy Paceco Uzeda who had promoted the city’s reconstruction after the earthquake in 1693.

 

It’s considered to be one of the symbol of the city, Uzeda gate is built in typical Catania baroque style, that is characterized to the alternation of lava stone and white marble for the decoration


On our way to the Piazza del Duomo (the fish market is behind us).
It takes only a few minutes from the Fish market to the Piazza del Duomo.


This the view of Uzeda gate once you are on the Piazza del Duomo looking back (the fish market is at the end of the gate.


We are in the square looking back at the Uzeda gate (center) on the left is the Catania Duomo.  The Amenano fountain is on the far right which you cannot see in this picture This is the south side on the square.

Standing in the center of the square is the Elephant Fountain (Fontana dell’Elefante).

Giovanni Battista Vaccarini created this amazing fountain in 1736 and is considered as the symbol of Catania.

 

At the base of the fountain there are two sculptures that represent the main rivers of Catania, the Simeto and Amenano, and above these you have the elephant with an Egyptian obelisk on its back.

In the back ground is the Palazzo del Municipio

 

Constructed of ancient remains, the elephant dates back to the Romans, and is made of lava. History also tells of a Byzantine magician named Eliodor, who rode an elephant into town. When this elephant was made, it was named after the magician, who's name, through time and dialectic use, became "Liotru".

The black lava elephant graces the square since the 1500’s; it stands on a stone platform and bears on its back an ancient Egyptian obelisk. The ancient Egyptian obelisk, decorated with ancient hieroglyphics, was brought from Egypt to Italy.

 

The Elephant fountain is surrounded by the Palazzo del Municipio (left) and Palazzo degli Elefanti  "Elephants Palace" on the right,

 Palazzo degli Elefanti is a historical building and currently houses the city's Town Hall.

 

On the South side of the square is the Amenano Fountain, built in 1837 in marble by Tito Angelini and was named after the Amenano river which flows under the city.

On top of the fountain is a statue of a young boy holding a horn of plenty.

 

 

By the way, the fish market is just behind the fountain.

 

This is the view from the fountain looking at the center of the square which you can see the Elephant fountain in the Elephant palace in the back ground.

 


Street musician in the square.

 

The Catania Cathedral or Saint Agata Cathedral is the main tourists attraction on the square.

 

Next...Catania Cathedral

 

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