The current appearance of the city of Catania is characterized by the Baroque forms that were used for the 18th-century reconstruction after the 1693 earthquake. The mansions scattered throughout the city center were built along straight wide streets cut by regular and frequent squares. The reconstruction work was conducted by the nobility and the clergy, and allowed the city to emerge from its rubble with a majesty never reached in previous centuries.
We will start our day cultural tour from Piazza Duomo, which is accessed by the Porta Uzeda. In this imposing square, we will admire the elegant façades with the contrasting white limestone of Comiso, black lava stone and grey plasterwork. After a visit to the historic and lively fish market that is known as ‘a Piscaria, we will go on Via Etnea where we can gaze at the concave façade of the late Baroque Basilica della Collegiata. You will marvel at the majestic structures of the Greek-Roman theater and the odeon. We will then arrive at the striking ruins of the amphitheater at Piazza Stesicoro.
Our private guided tour will continue leaving Catania to reach Aci Castello, a picturesque fishing village built at the foot of a basalt cliff. Here we will admire the Castle, built in Norman times using black volcanic stone. Finally, we will reach Aci Trezza, another charming fishing village dominated by the Isola Lachea and the "Faraglioni", where we will admire the places chosen by Verga as the setting for his famous novel “I Malavoglia”.
