ACIREALE
In the center of Acireale, in Piazza del Duomo, there’s the beautiful Cathedral of Maria Santissima Annunziata, its facade stands out for the large rose window, the sculptures above the door in neo-Gothic style and two bell towers. Inside the church there is a statue of the patron saint Santa Venera.
The most important church in Acireale and national monument is the Collegiate Basilica of San Sebastiano. The beautiful facade is full of marble sculptures and inside the church there are precious frescoes, paintings and the museum of the treasure.
Villa Belvedere, created in 1848, is famous for its breathtaking views of the sea and for its gardens adorned with marble statues and tanks.
ACITREZZA
The village of Acitrezza was founded by Prince Riggio, and the story of his palace, which no longer exists since the 900, is linked to the birth of this fishing village in the middle of ‘700.
Acitrezza is famous for its coastline and the cliffs that line the coast, on the largest of them there’s the Madonna of the Faraglione, a statue made of Carrara marble, created in 1954.
TAORMINA
The Theatre of Taormina, still used for shows and plays, was built in Greek times for artistic use and modernized and altered in Roman times to be used as an arena in the games. Recovered in the last century can host more than 4,000 spectators and is one of the most evocative places of the town.
Theatre of Taormina
Corvaja Palace is a fortified structure dating back to the fifteenth century with the characteristic battlements in Arabic style that have been added later. It is also known as the Palace of Parliament because it housed the seat of the Sicilian parliament. Today it houses the Museum of Art and Popular Traditions.
The Cathedral of Taormina is dedicated to St. Nicholas of Bari, built in the thirteenth century still shows a typical medieval structure. It is also called fortress Cathedral for its typical battlements on the facade and the bell tower.
CATANIA
The Cathedral of Catania is dedicated to St. Agatha, the patron saint of the town. The rich facade with three orders in Corinthian style, is made of Carrara marble. Inside, among the many works of art, sculptures and sacred objects, we find the chapel of Saint Agatha, called the “cammaredda” containing the engraved silver box which contains the relics of the patron saint.
Cathedral of Catania
Another building that characterizes Catania is the Ursino Castle. A medieval fortress dating back to the thirteenth century with an imposing square plan and four circular towers at the vertices. The castle is very well preserved in its structure and since the thirties it houses the Civic Museum with Greek and Roman sculptures, mosaics, columns and precious collections of coins.
During the visit in Catania don’t forget to see the Fish Market. A few steps from Piazza Duomo, every day, you can buy fresh fish and lear the best ways to cook it.
