Identity: Saint Agatha, the Liotru, the rebuilt city
A Greek colony, Aragonese capital of the Kingdom of Sicily in the early fifteenth century, rebuilt on the same site after 1693. Its symbol is the elephant in Piazza Duomo, "'u Liotru". The feast of Saint Agatha, 3–5 February, with the silver fercolo, the candelore and devotees in the white "sacco", is the most deeply felt moment of the year.
Sections: Geography · History · Population · Languages · Time zone · Public holidays
History in brief
Catania began as a colony of Naxos in 729–728 BC. From 1402 to 1416, starting under the Aragonese king Martin I of Sicily, it was capital of the Kingdom of Sicily. The lava of the 1669 eruption and the 1693 earthquake shaped the modern city: unlike Noto, which was rebuilt elsewhere, Catania was rebuilt on the same site, and its Baroque reconstruction bears the signature of Giovan Battista Vaccarini.
Symbols
In Piazza Duomo, in front of Saint Agatha's cathedral, stands the elephant "'u Liotru", the city's symbol. Via Etnea, about 3 km long, is the main street. Language has its rules too: in Catania you say "arancino", masculine; pasta alla Norma (tomato, salted ricotta, basil and fried aubergine) is named after an opera by Vincenzo Bellini, the composer born in the city, after whom the opera house and the airport are named.
Saint Agatha
The patron saint's feast runs from 3 to 5 February; the 5th is the anniversary of her martyrdom. On the first day, during the wax offering, the eleven "candelore" parade — carved and gilded wooden structures of the old trade guilds, carried on the shoulders — and in the evening there are fireworks in Piazza Duomo. On the 4th, after the Dawn Mass, the silver fercolo bearing the Saint goes out in procession, with the run up the "cchianata de' Cappuccini" towards Piazza San Domenico, and returns to the cathedral at first light. On the 5th the procession goes along Via Etnea to Piazza Cavour late at night; then comes the "cchianata di San Giuliano" and the return to the cathedral in the morning. Devotees wear the white "sacco" with a black cap and wave a handkerchief. According to tradition, Saint Agatha's veil stopped a lava flow from Etna.
Data
Sources
Updated: 2026-10-14
Updated: 2026-10-14
Updated: 2026-10-14
Updated: 2026-10-14
Reviewed: 10/20/2026 · by piero.avolio · rev. 1 · Period: → 2027-10-13
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