The town of Acireale arises from the development of a small village called Aquilia Nova, which changed its name in Acireale only in 1642 by decree of Philip IV of Spain. The town was seriously damaged by a tragic earthquake in 1693, and it was rebuilt more prosperous and rich in Baroque style.
On our private walking tour, we will admire the monumental façade of the Basilica of San Sebastiano, the lava-stone portal of the Church of Santa Maddalena, the 17th-century Church of Santi Pietro and Paolo, and the magnificent Municipal Building, that is characterized by a rich portal, and by balconies and windows with carved cornices. The focal point of the town is the beautiful Piazza Duomo, which is dominated by the Cathedral with its bell tower and the Baroque marble portal.
After admiring these monuments, the guided tour will continue with a walk along Via Cavour, which will allow us to reach Piazza San Domenico, with the homonymous church, and admire the beautiful corbels supporting the balconies of the 17th-century buildings. We will then stop at the Library and Art Gallery Zelantea, one of the richest and oldest in Sicily. Finally, we will visit the Opera dei Pupi Theater with the adjacent museum of the traditional folk theater, very popular in Sicily.
