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| Piazza Duomo |
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| Elephant Square |
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| A mermaid and merman were at the base of the fountain. |
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| Anfiteatro Romano entry. |
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| The amphitheatre was protected within a gated enclosure. |
During my visit to Sicily I flew into Catania, which prominantly sits on the east coast of the island facing the Ionian Sea. It is the second largest city on the island, and the tenth in Italy. It is the province's capital, and was founded in 8th century B.C. During the Renaissance period of the 14th century, Catania was the center of cultural, artistic, and political activities. The city's architectural delights were distinctly influenced by the Roman and Greek empires and the Catholic church. Interestingly, the elephant is the city's heraldic symbol since the 13th century. The elephant in Piazza Duomo (Cathedral Square), or what the locals call "Elephant Square," was sculpted out of volcanic stone during the Roman era. An obelisk was additionally mounted later as a finishing post for races, when the statue sat in the city's center. The Anfiteatro Romano (Roman Amphitheatre), several blocks away in the midst of a busy roundabout (traffic circle), was another interesting discovery. It was protected within the confines of a gated enclosure, and was once the site for violent gladiator games. Today it is the architechtural prototype for sporting arenas around the world.
