Catania

The theatre of taste

a piscariaA few metres from the cathedral, just past Porta Uzeda, is the fish market, “a piscaria”. It has been home to one of Catania’s historical markets since the early 19th century.
Modest in size, it is now a destination for fish connoisseurs and tourists.
Amidst the colours of red mullet and black mussel shells, the vendors’ shouts mingle with the smell.
Though rather strong and pungent, it’s definitely authentic and encourages visitors to take some fish home. Spices can also be found, to accompany the market purchases. Packaged in unidentified plastic bags, they tell a story of cultural influences steeped in past and present that reveal and release aromas of ancient origin. Observing in this way brings you closer to the beauty of these places.
The market of Catania is a theatre of taste, animated by the traders’ shouts, where you can revel in an atmosphere where time seems to stand still.

Places of knowledge: the Benedictines’ library

A Nobel Prize in Modica

Connections with other UNESCO sites

Searching for colour

A city in colour

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Sebastiano

The cathedral of Sant’Agata: a lengthy reconstruction

The interior and its masterpieces

Garden of Novices and the restorations by Giancarlo De Carlo

A prominent church

Two illustrious patron saints

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

A long reconstruction

The character of Badia Sant’Agata

The Barresi-Branciforte lords

The church of Carmine

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

Between white and black

The senses tell about Palazzo Napolino Tommasi Rosso

The disastrous earthquake

New roads for Catania

A colourful floor

The senses tell the story of the church of San Giuseppe

Discovering the mother church

San Benedetto: a treasure reopened to the public

The colours of the cathedral

The chocolate of Modica

From St. Thomas to St. Joseph

From International Gothic to present day

Fontana della Ninfa Zizza, public water in the town

The wall comes to life

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

The Maiolica of the staircase

St. Agatha and the giant candelabras

Limestone, the colour of harmony

Norman apses

The façade used as a puppet theatre

A half-Baroque church

The internal colours

Palazzo Nicolaci di Villadorata, who is the architect?

The kitchen, a treasure chest of colours

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

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

One city, two sites

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

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

Rosario Gagliardi, the maestro of the Val di Noto

Corbels: a celebration of the Nicolaci family

The senses tell about Palazzo La Rocca

A hall for the feasts

A feast only for Scicli

A miniature city

A new site for a new city

The Supernatural dimension of the chapel of the Santissimo Sacramento

The Feast of San Giacomo (St. James)

Prominent façade

The senses tell the Cathedral of Sant’Agata

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

Feasting in Palazzolo

Many owners, one palace

The theatre of taste

One city, three sites

A new palace for the La Rocca lords

The senses tell about Palazzo Nicolaci

San Nicolò l’Arena: an unfinished church

The Baroque town by the sea

Baroque and the loss of equilibrium in the 16th century

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Benedetto

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

Feast days

Wonderful quick decorations

The Burgos crucifix

A design by Vincenzo Sinatra

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

Some prestigious works

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

A new site for a new church

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

A small room with a golden entrance

A new entrance for Santa Chiara (St. Claire)

A museum to save a tradition

An eagle-shaped city

Militello, the story of an enlightened fiefdom

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

The Staircase of Angels

Some masterpieces

The Benedictine Monastery, one of the largest in Europe

A square as the heart of the city

A talking palace

A majestic and luminous church

Modica, a city with ancient origins

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

The Infiorata, a feast of colours and flowers

A symbol for the town

St. Sebastian, so much work!

The two churches

A triumph of colour

The senses tell the story of the Church of the Annunciation

The city of museums