CATANIA

Catania is one of the most intriguing and historical of sicily's cities. Some of the island'd first greek colonists settled the site as early as 729 bc, becoming so influential that their laws were eventually adopted by all the tonian colonies of magna grecia. Catania's main square, piazza del Duomo, is a handy orientation point and one of Sicily's most attractive city squares, surrounded by fine baroque structures, including the duomo ( daily 9 am- 5pm), which incorporates granite columns from Catania's roman amphiitheatre.The city arms depict an elephant of lava, like the elephant that adorns the monumental fountain in the cathedral square, erected after the 1693 earthquake. The elephant was placed in a temple of oriental rites in a city consacrated to the goddess isis, and was brought across the sea from egypt. The church is dedicated to St. AGATHA, and was erected on the ruins of the roman achillian baths between 1078 and 1093.The bell tower was built in 1868 by architect Carmelo Sciuto Patti.