Description of the attraction
Piazza Stesicoro is one of the main squares of the historic center of Catania, located on its main street - Via Etnea. It divides the street almost exactly in half. The square has the shape of a rectangle, along the perimeter of which buildings in a variety of architectural styles are built. On the east side there is a monument to the great composer Vincenzo Bellini, made by the sculptor Giulio Monteverde in 1882. From the north, the area is bounded by the luxurious Palazzo del Toscano, and to the northeast there is the Palazzo Beneventano, one of the facades overlooking Corso Sicilia. In the southern part of Piazza Stesicoro, there are buildings of lesser architectural value.
In the very center of the square, at a level of about ten meters below the street pavement, is the northern part of the ancient Roman amphitheater, excavated in the last century after many centuries of oblivion. To the west, on a small hill, you can see the Church of San Biagio, also known as Santa Agata alla Fornache, and the Palazzo della Borsa. Finally, it is worth paying attention to the magnificent palace of the 18th century - Palazzo Tezzano, which housed the tribunal until 1953.
In the middle of the 20th century, all the buildings that stood behind the monument to Vincenzo Bellini were demolished, and in their place was laid the modern street - Corso Sicilia, built up with various office buildings in which banks and insurance companies are located. Corso Sicilia leads to Piazza della Repubblica and on to Central Station.
Today, Piazza Stesicoro is one of the most visited squares in Catania, thanks to its central location and the fair, which takes place here from Monday to Saturday.
