Duomo di Catania

Sant Agata is Catania’s patron saint. She was martyred when Romans tortured her to death for refusing the advances of one of their men.

One of the atrocities she endured was having her breasts removed with forceps! (See painting.)

Throughout Catania, a pastry commemorating the martyrdom of this saint can be found in cafes and bars. The dessert is meant to resemble Sant Agata’s breasts, complete with a maraschino cherry on top.

In fact, when a cafe employee saw me gazing into the pastry case, he casually asked (in Italian) if wanted a breast!

The treat’s official name is Casoletta or Minne di Sant Agata. We gave one a try and while it was tasty, it was very sweet. I’m glad we tried it.Read more