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The Revolution in Sicily - the Cathedral and Square of the Elephant, Catania, 1860. Creator: Unknown
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The Revolution in Sicily - the Cathedral and Square of the Elephant, Catania, 1860. Creator: Unknown
The Revolution in Sicily - the Cathedral and Square of the Elephant, Catania, 1860. Catania, with its straight streets and white houses, has the appearance of a handsome modern town, notwithstanding its twenty-five centuries of existence. Among the most noteworthy of its buildings is the cathedral, a vast building, dedicated to Santa Agata. The front is ornamented with fine granite columns, taken from the theatre of the ancient city, and the sacristy is covered with frescoes representing the ravages of the eruption in 1669. In the square before it is a fountain [designed by Giovanni Battista Vaccarini], with an elephant made of lava, bearing on its back a small granite obelisk, terminated by a cross. The elephant was the ancient symbol of the Catanians, a fact which may account for the great dimensions of the statue and the excellence of the workmanship; but the hieroglyphics which are carved on the pedestal are illegible, and the story of its origin is lost. This extraordinary, rather than beautiful, fountain adornment stands in the centre of the square of the Elephant, formed by the townhall, seminary, and cathedral - an area superior in grandeur and extent to every other in Catania'. From "Illustrated London News", 1860
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Catania Catania Sicily Italy Expedition Of The Thousand Fountain Fountains Lava Risorgimento Square Cathedral Of Saint Agatha
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This photograph depicts the Cathedral and Square of the Elephant in Catania, Sicily during the year 1860. The city of Catania, with its labyrinth of straight streets and pristine white houses, exudes an air of modern charm despite its rich history spanning over twenty-five centuries. At the heart of this charming town stands the impressive Cathedral of Santa Agata, a grand edifice adorned with magnificent granite columns, plucked from the ancient city's theatre, and a sacristy adorned with frescoes that narrate the devastating effects of the 1669 eruption. In the square before the cathedral, a unique fountain takes center stage. Designed by the renowned Sicilian artist, Giovanni Battista Vaccarini, the fountain features an imposing lava elephant, bearing on its back a small granite obelisk, crowned with a cross. The elephant, an ancient symbol of the Catanians, is a testament to the town's rich heritage, its grand dimensions and exquisite craftsmanship a reflection of the town's pride. The hieroglyphics carved on the pedestal, however, remain illegible, and the origins of this extraordinary fountain adornment remain shrouded in mystery. The Square of the Elephant, graced by the town hall, seminary, and cathedral, boasts a grandeur and extent unmatched by any other in Catania. This photograph, taken in 1860, offers a glimpse into the past, revealing the timeless beauty and historical significance of this remarkable Sicilian town.
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