BAROQUE CATANIA

Description

In the company of our guide, we will set out to discover Catania, a stunning Baroque city on the shores of the Ionian Sea at the foot of Mount Etna on a huge plain planted with citrus fruits. After marvelling at its beauty, we will also have time to sample a classic granita and brioche.

What we will see

• Centre of Catania
• Piazza Stesicoro, monument to Bellini and Roman Amphitheatre
• Cathedral of Saint Agatha
• Porta Uzeda
• Sicilian granita and brioche tasting

What we will do

• We will travel by comfortable coach to the centre of Catania, gazing down at some of the city's most well-known and characteristic streets.
• We will pass through Piazza Stesicoro where we will make a stop for a photo of the nineteenth-century monument dedicated to the Catanese composer Vincenzo Bellini, a virtuoso work by Giulio Monteverde.
• We will then have the chance to admire the ruins of the Roman amphitheatre, of which the arena and lower order of arches are still visible, just enough to evoke the grandeur of this entertainment venue that was only slightly smaller than the Colosseum.
• Next, we will continue on foot into the ancient heart of the city, where we will visit the Cathedral of Saint Agatha, built during the Middle Ages and embellished over the centuries until it took on its current appearance during the 18th century.
• Once inside, we will admire the Norman apses and transept, which, in addition to the mullioned windows and precious columns, were revealed during the restoration, creating a particularly picturesque setting.
• The church is home to many works of important cultural and artistic value. These include the tomb of Bellini, two sarcophagi, one of which belongs to Constance of Aragon, and the exquisite Renaissance sculpture of the Virgin placed on the altar.
• The Baroque splendour of Porta Uzeda provides the backdrop to an unmissable photograph that offers an opportunity to immortalise your holiday before we explore the streets of the centre in search of unexpected corners.
• Finally, we will enjoy a pleasant end to our excursion at a city centre café, sampling a refreshing granita and fragrant brioche in the best tradition of Sicilian cuisine.

What you need to know

• During religious functions the visit to the cathedral will only be a tour of the exterior. Alternatively, there will be a tour of the Collegiata Basilica. Dress code that is appropriate for the places of worship to be visited is recommended (ladies are expected to wear a shoulder scarf covering shoulders and arms; neither ladies nor gents are allowed to wear shorts).