Catania, Day 2

Our full day of walking around the city, roughly following a Rick Steve's self guided tour.

From the main plaza in front of the Cathedral, Mt Etna dominates the skyline. No clouds over summit for a while today.

A stop in the wild and chaotic fish market, which was mobbed.

We toured the archeological site of an ancient (6th century BCE). The Romans used it too, several centuries later.

Toured the Catania Duomo cathedral, which is beautiful.

Visited several other churches, Catania has churches like Boston has Dunks, every corner!

Had a great tour of the former Benedictine Monastery (now part of a university). Tour included stops in two cloisters, an underground vaulted chamber (now a library), another underground chamber that the Abbotts used as food storage chambers and kitchens. Outside is an amazing wall of lava rock, which formed during an Etna eruption. The Abbotts tried to protect the Monestery from the lava flow by building an earthen/sand embankment (they had months to prepare!) It didn't work, but the rebuilt monastery has the huge lava rock wall now.

A very nice day, in a "gritty" city!Read more