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1 Underground sites in Catania
2 Information

Lava flows have periodically covered entire districts of Catania, burying much of the city’s past, which will remain largely hidden forever.
However, you can discover remains in several places around the city, among the underground areas, such as ancient remnants, caves or crypts.

Underground sites in Catania

  • The Achillian Baths by Jean Houel

    The Achillian Baths by Jean Houel (1776)

    Several ancient Roman baths can be discovered in Catania: the Achillian Baths, the Baths of the Indirizzo, and the Baths of the Rotonda.

  • The Bonajuto Chapel, a Byzantine monument immersed in the heart of Baroque Catania.
  • The cave of the church of San Gaetano alle Grotte, originally a Roman cistern, was one of the city’s first Christian burial sites, in the 3rd century.
  • In the underground areas of the Benedictine monastery are the Decumano Massimo (the main Roman paved street), a Domus Romana and kitchens.
  • The remains of the temple of Saint Euplius with its crypt.
  • The underground river Amenano can be seen in various places, such as in the Achillian Baths.
  • The Roman Hypogeum carré (ipogeo quadrato), near Piazza Lanza.
  • The well of Gammazita and its fascinating legend, telling the story of Gammazita, a tall, very beautiful and virtuous young woman from Catania, who on her wedding day threw herself into the well to escape the assault of a French soldier.
  • The crypt of the church of Saint Agatha of the Prison (Sant’Agata al carcere), where the martyr had her breasts cut off.

Information

External sites

Articles about Catania