Finally, a sunny day

Catania, Sciliy, Italy 55 F Sunny

Catania sits at the bottom of Mt Etna, Europe's most active volcano erupting at least once a year from 2001. The eruptions rarely cause damage to structures or Human life and is considered generally safe to live in the area. Catania is the second largest city in Sicily with approximately 350,00 in the city proper.

The area is subtropical with palm trees and cactus and the rich volcanic soil producing crops of citrus, olives and grapes among many other type of fruits and vegetables.

Catania was founded in the 8th century BC by the Greeks. Facing the Ionian Sea, it was an important political and cultural center in Sicily. It experienced severe devastation from the 1693 earthquake, leaving most architecture to be rebuilt in the baroque style rather than knowing about when buildings were built based on the type of architecture. Catania is the home to masters including the composers Vincenzo Bellini and Giovanni Pacini.

The Old Town is a protected UNESCO World Heritage site, with a main black and while Plazza built with lava stone and marble. The Old Plazza contains governmental buildings and the city Duomo(church). In the square is a statue of an elephant commonly referred to as U Liotru and has become the mascot of the city.

The Old Town Duomo

Just outside the square is a raucous fish market. This fountain is at the entrance. The pool of water is actually a stream running underground that surfaces for a short while before going underground again.

This is one of the main routes through the old town - there must be 3 churches per block.

Saint Agatha is a patron saint of Cantania. The first week of February is a 4-day celebration where the devoted and followers parade a heavy large bust of the saint through the Old town, followed by 12 ft tall candelarias. The sheer size and weight and size are impressive to be carried by humans alone once you see the end of the route going straight up the street. The candelarias follow in the procession behind the saint and are kept in various churches. Groups of devotees to the statutes are busy now polishing them up, fixing any damage for the upcoming celebration. Each candelaria represents a profession (pasta maker, baker, butcher etc). You can see the wooden handles used to carry these heavy pieces on shoulders during the parades.

Finally Bellini's theatre in the Old Town

we stop at Naples. For whatever reason we stop in Naples at the beginning and end of the trip. The time in port at the end of the trip is much longer so for tomorrow I will laser focus on seeing a statue that has eluded me so far - the Veiled Christ and if time the hunt for a black Madonna.

Ciao!