The 7 Secrets of Catania that few in the world know
The 7 secrets of Catania – We’re not leaving Sicily nor Catania yet. It would be a shame to forget to explore the many secrets of this wonderful city, so mysteriously perched between the active volcano Mount Etna and the wonderfully blue Jonian Sea. Prepare yourselves to be surprised by Catania’s beauty and history. Continue reading clicking the below button >
1.The Elephant
We’ll begin our tour with the Elephant, the statue that’s also the symbol of the city. Only few things are know for sure: it’s a statue made of volcanic rock (either by the Byzantines or the Carthaginians) and brought in Sicily by the Benedictine monks, becoming Catania’s emblem in 1200 AD . This elephant became part of the monumental fountain that faces Catania’s Cathedral during the XVII century – the proboscis pointing toward the church as if the beast were paying homage to the patron Saint Agatha. According to the most famous legend, this statue was made by Liodoro around the VIII century AD; this man was the owner of an elephant he would use to travel back and forth Catania and Costantinople. He also happened to be an heretic who enraged Pope Leo II, who ordered him burned at the stake and his volcanic rock masterpiece thrown outside the city walls. Too bad for the pope, Catania’s citizens loved the man, so they retrieved the statue, giving it the name Liotru – from Liodoro. Scientifically speaking, archaeologists have found numerous remnants of dwarf elephants from the Paleolithic – such a discovery prompted researchers to ask: what if the people from ancient Sicily mistook these elephants’ proboscises for a single eye, creating the myth of the cyclops? It would only made sense, given the fact the most famous cyclops Polyphemus was invented by the Ancient Greeks and Sicily belonged to Magna Graecia. Continue reading clicking the below button >
2.The Phoenix
On the top of Porta Garibaldi you’ll see the statue of a phoenix, with the inscription “Melior de cinere surgo” – From my ashes I rise again, more beautiful than before. The mythological bird that cyclically dies and rises again known as Phoenix, was invented in Ancient Egypt. The myth spread to all neighboring civilizations, some of which invaded and reigned over Sicily for quite a while – these centuries are known as Muslim Age. For some, the Phoenix is the true symbol of Catania, because the city has been destroyed multiple times by earthquakes, invasions and Etna’s eruptions, but its has always risen again from its ashes, every time more beautiful. Continue reading clicking the below button >
3.The red veil
Saint Agatha was a beautiful deaconess who unfortunately caught the eye of a Roman consul; she refused his attentions, so he had her tortured to death – thus she rose to sainthood. Her relics were stolen a couple of times, journeying from Catania to Costantinople and back. Now they rest inside the statue dedicated to the holy woman, inside Catania’s cathedral. The most intriguing detail of these relics is a piece of red cloth believed to be Agatha’s deaconess veil: legend has it that her veil was white, but turned red as the flames consumed the woman’s body. It is certainly intriguing the mental association one does concerning the Saint patroness, the color red and the fire evoked by her legendary veil… doesn’t it reminds you of lava stream? Continue reading clicking the below button >
4.The Castle’s ghosts
The fortress known as Castello Ursino was built by the orders of the Norman Emperor Frederick II. Originally very close to the sea, a lava stream separated the castle from the coast, creating meters of volcanic rocks. Nonetheless one can only marvel at the fortress’ strength against lava. Being so indestructible, it goes without saying that it must have housed hundreds of people and their stories. Who knows some of these ancient inhabitants still haunt the castle, as reported by the museum staff and visitors alike. There’s a painting in particular that makes us believe to these ghost stories: the “Head of mad Ophelia” is the portrait of a young lady with piercing eyes – the more you look at the painting, the more its subject comes to life, you can feel Ophelia’s presence, her eyes fixed on you. Continue reading clicking the below button >
5.The Emperor’s door
Emperor Frederick II crushed every revolt enacted by Sicilians who supported the Pope’s claim over that of the Norman prince. In order to help his new subjects keep in mind that he was invincible, he had the marble arch over the door of the church Sant’Agata al Carcere modified with a series of tiny statues and details representing his story, his power and Sicily’s submission to his rule. Looking at said door, you’ll notice all these intriguing details and marvel at the accuracy with which they represent Frederick’s glory. Continue reading clicking the below button >
6.Sicilian pyramids
A trip on Mount Etna will reveal to you the presence of several pyramids. Yep, just like the Egyptian ones. They aren’t always easy to spot, but they are a sight to see. Who built them? Why? When? Hypotheses abound. Ancient Mediterranean civilization used to travel a lot, so it’s perfectly plausible to imagine a crew of Egyptian sailors land in Sicily, climb Mount Etna and decide certain spots would be perfect to worship their Sun God Rah – or build a burial monument. Otherwise it also plausible to suppose the ancient Sicilians met the Egyptians – maybe they fought against them, may they used to be business partners – saw the pyramids and decided they wanted their own pyramids too. Continue reading clicking the below button >
7.Where does Catania ends and Mount Etna begins?
Catania was founded in 700 BC by the Greek settlers. Back then, the city known as Katan or Katane (from the Greek) used to be the main site of worship to Demeter, goddess of harvest and agriculture. Three centuries later, a tyrant who conquered the city renamed it Aitna, from the Greek word for “burning”. For some reason, this new ruler considered the city to be one thing with the volcano. Then the Romans came and they changed the name again: the city itself was given the name Catana, whereas the volcano was named Aetna, thus ideally separating the two places. During the centuries, these Latin words would be reshaped by the ever-changing language and become today’s Catania and Etna. But when we take into consideration how often the city has been modified by Mount Etna’s eruptions, one can’t fail to notice that probably the tyrant who named it “burning place” had a point.
Discover also the secrets of Palermo clicking here
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(Photo credits cover photo: www.sicilianpress.com)
