Catania

The last 3 days of INDOC class was an ICR intercultural relations class, which was very helpful. After some classroom time we went on a field trip to the nearby city of Catania. Those of you that have been here before this will look familiar to you since it is a big tourist spot. We were dropped off at the Piazza Duomo, this baroque square is the heart of Catania and is dominated by the Duomo (Cathedral) and the Fontana del'Elefante(Statue of an elephant). We went to the Duomo first, which I apologize the pictures don't do justice to the beauty of this cathedral. It's splendid Baroque facade dates back from the Norman times, but it was destroyed in a earthquake in 1693, during reconstruction it's granite columns were borrowed from the city's Roman amphitheater. Inside is the composer Vincenzo Bellini's tomb. His face has a bronze mask on it and he is in a long robe, but you can see his decayed hands, it's was quite a site. I didn't take a picture of his body, I felt a little weird about it. After that we went to the flee market and got some fruit. Then met up for lunch next to St Agatha's Abbey. The meal was fantastic. It was a wonderful day.
St Agatha's Abbey

Close up of St Agatha's Abbey

Statue by the resturaunt

Fontana dell Elefante

Inside the Duomo

Staute in the garden of the Duomo

Building at the end of the Piazza Duomo