This morning we rode the train the short 30-minute ride to Catania.
Taormina station had a very Victorian feel to it
We walked the 20 minutes from Catania central station to our hotel Palace Catania in the downtown area. Our way there took us through some sketchier parts, but not threatening.
The city was humming with carnival and St. Agatha holiday excitement. Children dressed in costumes tossing confetti and squirting ????? from spray cans. Families out promenading en masse. Lots of sidewalk entertainment.
More on Sant’Agata, who plays a major role here in this city as the patron saint, who was martyred in the year 251 AD, during the persecution of the Roman Emperor Decius.
The saint is celebrated in Catania twice a year – the Feast of Sant’Agata held in February commemorates the martyrdom of the Saint, while the Summer Feast of Sant’Agata, held on August 17, celebrates the return of her remains to Catania.
In February, around one million people come from all over Sicily to attend Festa di Sant’Agata, which is comparable with the Holy Week in Seville, Spain, or the Feast of Corpus Domini in Cuzco, Peru. For three days, the city forgets about everyday things to focus on the celebration, a mixture of devotion and folklore.
Born in Catania in 231, Agata consecrated her life to the Christian religion. At the age of 15, she made a vow of virginity and rejected the amorous proposals of the Roman prefect Quintianus, who tried numerous times to seduce her. After her refusal, Quintianus persecuted her as a Christian, and had her martyred on February 5, 251.
The first celebration of Sant’Agata probably took place on August 17, 1126, when the remains of the Saint, stolen in 1040, were brought back to Catania from Constantinople.
Bellini park had lots of activity and, for some reason, today’s date, 11 February 2024, was part of the park’s plant sculpture.
We enjoyed lunch outside at Etna Rosso restaurant, but upon using the facilities inside were struck by the thousands of bottles of wine lining the walls. We were told upward of 7,000! Oh! And the bruschetta that Dennis ordered was Sicilian style! And my caponata was amazing.
We finished off the day with aperitifs on the hotel’s rooftop terrace with beautiful views of Mount Etna.
And an evening stroll
Loving your travels.