| From Piazza Garibaldi to the Collegio |
|
Piazza Garibaldi You experience a feeling of wonder when you catch sight of the cupola of the Cathedral rising up above the roof tops, as you make your way along via Roma and into Piazza Garibaldi. It towers above the façade of the Palazzo di Città (18th century), the Palazzo Capodarso (18th century), the church of Fundrò (17th century) and the ex-Benedictine monastery (17th century), almost as if to underline its architectural superiority over all the other monuments of the town. All these buildings are notable for their simplicity and elegance and, although they can each be admired independently, they can also be considered as a single architectural complex. Each building fits harmoniously into the framework of the beautiful Piazza Garibaldi, the pulsating heart of the town. From this square streets lead off into the old town, where every stone has a story to tell if you look carefully and appreciate the intrinsic beauty of the building Piazza Duomo Returning up via Cavour, you come to Piazza S. Rosalia, which has recently been restored. Here you will see Palazzo Trigona di Canicarao (1 7th century) on the right, a noble 17th century residence with a crenellated façade and a wide portal surmounted by a large balcony bearing an eagle with a shield, the emblem of the Trigona di Canicarao family. A little further on, in Piazza Calarco, you will find the majestic ex-Monastery of Saint Francis (17th century). This impressive piece of architecture was built in the early 1600s and the façade overlooking via Cavour is characterised by a Baroque style balcony attributed to the Gagini brothers. Further on, you arrive in Piazza Duomo, dominated by the imposing mass of the Cathedral. In the centre of the same square there is a statue of Baron Marco Trigona, portrayed offering the Cathedral to the town. Overlooking the square is Palazzo Trigona delia Floresta (18th century), which it is hoped will soon house the town's archaeological museum. Piazza Castello This pretty square is situated in the southern area of the old Monte district. Apart from the Aragonese castle from which it takes its name, there are also some elegant noble residences (Velardita and Roccazzelia from the 18th century and Starrabba from the 19th century) and the delightful church of Our Lady of the Snow (17th century. Collegio Via Vittorio Emanuele connects Piazza Castello with Piazza Garibaldi and along this street you will find the ex Jesuit College, with the adjacent church of Saint lgnatius (17th century), and the elegantly shaped church of Saint Anne (18th century).
From St. Anthony Square to St. Peter's |
