{"id":68073,"date":"2015-07-10T12:21:00","date_gmt":"2015-07-10T11:21:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sicile-sicilia.net\/?p=68073"},"modified":"2026-10-13T08:08:28","modified_gmt":"2026-10-13T07:08:28","slug":"along-the-via-etnea-in-catania","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sicile-sicilia.net\/en\/along-the-via-etnea-in-catania","title":{"rendered":"Along the Via Etnea in Catania"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Via Etnea<\/strong> is the main shopping street in the centre of Catania, a very long street lined with shops, ice cream parlours, palaces and churches, and crossing several beautiful squares of the city.
About 3 km long, it links Piazza Duomo to the green space of Parco Gioeni, with the botanical garden halfway along, passing through the main public park of the Villa Bellini, with a view of the volcano Etna along its axis on clear days. It is largely pedestrianised, ideal for strolling, lively all year round, with markets and events.<\/p>\n

Piazza Universit\u00e0 in Catania<\/h2>\n

Following the Via Etnea from Piazza Duomo, you reach Piazza Universit\u00e0<\/strong>, with the University of Catania<\/strong>, whose palace was rebuilt after the 1693 earthquake, designed by Vaccarini (around 1730) and completed by Battaglia. Beautiful paintings adorn the interior walls. It now houses administrative offices. The inner courtyard is freely accessible (in the morning), with the black and white paving typical of Sicilian Baroque, an elegant two-storey portico and the loggia. <\/p>\n

Opposite, the Palazzo San Giuliano<\/strong> was built between 1738 and 1745 by Vaccarini for the Patern\u00f2 Castello family, marquises of San Giuliano, whose coat of arms is on the sculpted portal of the Baroque fa\u00e7ade. It houses the university’s administrative offices. The interior is not open to the public.<\/p>\n

The Palazzo Gioeni<\/strong> has a fa\u00e7ade decorated with white stone and a bronze angel; 18th century. <\/p>\n

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Collegiate Church of Santa Maria dell’Elemosina<\/h2>\n

Continuing along the Via Etnea, you pass the collegiate basilica, the Basilica S. Maria dell’Elemosina<\/strong>, built in the 18th century with a surprising concave fa\u00e7ade made in 1758 by the architect Stefano Ittar<\/strong>. Originally there was a pagan temple here dedicated to Proserpina, then a sanctuary dating back to the first centuries of Christianity, which grew in importance. It was converted into a royal chapel under the Aragonese in the 14th century, before a college of canons was established there in the 15th century.
The interior has three naves with a polychrome altar preserving a Byzantine icon. It preserves frescoes by Sciuti<\/strong> on the vault and the dome (1896) or a painting of Saint Apollonia by Olivio Sozzi<\/strong>.  
Open during the day and generally on Sunday mornings.<\/p>\n\n\n