So, dear beautiful people, as I promised, the third part of the story about our holiday in Sicily is here. Just a quick reminder, we are still in Catania (you have the links to the previous two blogs below). I am continuing with the third day; after breakfast near Piazza del Duomo, posing with that cute elephant statue and by the Amenano Fountain, we enjoyed the beautiful view from the dome and then entered the Cathedral of Saint Agatha, which is just a few meters away, on the same square.
At the entrance, they asked us whether we were worshippers or tourists, so as tourists, we bought a ticket (€12 per person) that included the cathedral, the Achillian Baths, the ancient Roman baths beneath the cathedral itself and the Diocesan Museum, where we had the chance to go up to two more rooftops. Later, I found out that Saint Agatha was an early Christian saint who lived and died in the 3rd century AD and that our Orthodox Church also celebrates her feast day on February 18.
Since we went around on our own, without a guide, and were completely unfamiliar with the story beforehand, it really touched me when we later put the pieces together in the museum and realized what her life story and martyrdom had been like.
Actually, I remembered the cakes shaped like breasts that we kept seeing everywhere there, as well as a cooking show I had seen on TV about that very cake. As we learned more, we found out that Saint Agatha had been tortured because of her faith, and that, according to the story of her martyrdom, she was imprisoned and subjected to terrible torture, including having her breasts cut off. She was later thrown onto burning coals and sharp pieces of pottery, and eventually died in prison. In Christian tradition, she is remembered as a symbol of courage, purity, and unwavering faith in Christ. ❤️
Since I am not knowledgeable enough to write and go into detail about architectural styles or art, I would not talk about that or copy information from the internet that you can easily find yourselves anyway. I think the best way is to share these photos of the interior that I carefully took, capturing and recording every little detail that fascinated me.
Bishop Bonadies commissioned Giacinto Platania to paint this monumental fresco. It shows the volcano in flames, lava surrounding the famous Ursino Castle and people fleeing in panic on boats.
After leaving the cathedral, just to the left, there are stairs leading underground, and we were delighted by the natural air conditioning down there, hihi. It was so pleasantly cool that we stayed a little longer, just to take a break from the unbearable heat that was constant both during the day and at night.
As for the baths themselves, it is basically an underground space where you can see and hear water coming from deep inside some holes below. And that is more or less it. Oh, and of course, there were tons of coins that people throw wherever they can, whether it is a fountain, a puddle or just a hole. Like whaaat? =)
At the Museo Diocesano di Catania, a museum of sacred art and history, you can find objects from the Cathedral and other churches in the surrounding area, including old liturgical silver, gold, church vestments, sculptures and paintings, lots of old coins and old pottery. And of course, I spent the most time admiring every magnificent collection of gold jewelry on display.
I wouldn't be a true Serbian if I hadn't spent the most time taking pictures of this double-headed eagle coat of arms, hihi.
Also, as you have probably noticed by now, I really love looking up (and pointing my camera up) to photograph beautiful ceilings and vaults. I usually find even more beauty up there compared to what is easily accessible right next to us, somewhere on the wall at eye level. Is there anyone else who does the same?
And of course, here are a few more photos from the rooftops, again with a view of Piazza del Duomo, one of the domes of the Cathedral of Saint Agatha and its bell tower...
The museum itself is just the right size to give you enough to see, neither too much nor too little. But I definitely suggest grabbing something to eat before you start exploring, and then again when you finish. A coffee is also a must and some gelato, mmm. 🥰
Looks like the next blog is going to be about the third day in Catania too, oops. xD That's what happens when you spend a first two days lounging around and getting used to your new accommodation and the climate in another country, and then one day decide to make up for everything you missed during the first two.
Also, I have so many random but really good photos that simply can't fit into these blogs, so there will probably be some extras later on too. I told you, I'll be bothering you for the next year with stories from one single trip. 😅
Thank you for reading both my serious and my not-so-serious and silly stuff. <3
@bibana/sicilyyyyyyy-our-first-two-days@bibana/fish-arancini-an-elephant-and
[//]:# (!worldmappin 37.50205 lat 15.08754 long Catania, Sicily d3scr)