Since I brought only a day-bag back from Siragusa, I went straight to Catania free walking tour after the morning train ride. Catania is a busy university city and economic center, great for nightlife, the gate to Mount Etna (World Heritage and the biggest volcano in Europe).
The tour started from Piazza Duomo with the Elephant Fountain, the Cathedral (inside) and the Town Hall, then crossed the historic fish market and reached the Ursino Castle, Piazza Mazzini , Piazza San Francesco, via dei Crociferi, etc. To my surprise, Sicily was part of African plate (rather than Europe) so they disclosed elephant remains. Sicilian Baroque came to exist in Sicily after the devastating earthquake in 1693. Local architects took the way to the further development of Baroque style to a more personalized and highly localized art form on the Sicily island.
I took 2-hr break in hostel to wait for the churches to re-open at 4 pm, and then visited Giardino Bellini (yet blocked early for 9pm Rick concert), Orto Botanico dell'Università di Catania (only opened 9-2 on Saturdays), Chiesa di San Nicolo All'Arena, Chiesa della Badia di Sant'Agata, and Monastero dei Benedettini di San Nicolò l'Arena. I cooked fish and vege for dinner.
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