Via Etnea (Etnea Street), Catania

Etnea Street is Catania's main Street. It extends three miles from the Cathedral Square all the way to the park Tondo Gioeni at the edge of town. The street dates from Roman times but the current Etnea Street came about after the earthquake of 1693.

The buildings along the route were mostly leveled in the earthquake. They were replaced with Baroque style buildings designed by Giovanni Battista Vaccarini and Francesco Battaglia. The street today is pedestrianized to a large extent. The sidewalks are made wholly of lava stone, courtesy of Mount Etna.

Among the buildings along the road is the palace of Gioeni Asmundo in the University square. The San Demetrio Palace and Toscano Palace are both in the Stesicore Square with the Vincenzo Bellini monument. The Post Office Building still serves as a post office. Last is the Villa Bellini, the garden of Catania.

Etnea Street is also shopping street. As you walk along you notice the ground floors of these fine Baroque buildings are shops. The shops seem to alternate among restaurants, cafes and bars. A lot of tasting goes on here. Pasta alla Norma, arancini and cannoli and many other traditional dishes await the hungry stroller.