Baroque, Sicilian window front in the historic city centre of Catania by Silva Wischeropp

The architectural motif was taken on 26 December 2024 in the midday hours with the NIKON D800 (lens: NIKKOR 24.0-70.0 mm f/2.8).

The black and white character gives the baroque motif an elegant, timeless atmosphere.

Catania boasts impressive Baroque architecture, which was rebuilt in the so-called Sicilian Baroque style after the devastating earthquake of 1693. The richly decorated façades made of black lava stone, adorned with putti, masks and ornate sculptures, are characteristic of the city.
The Via Crociferi, Piazza Duomo with the cathedral and town hall, the Benedictine monastery of San Nicolò and the abbey church of Sant'Agata are particularly worth seeing.
Highlights of the baroque facades in Catania
Via Crociferi: This straight, magnificent street is known as the "jewel of the Baroque" and is lined with numerous churches and Baroque buildings.
Piazza Duomo: The cathedral square is surrounded by opulent palaces, including the town hall and the seminary. The façade of the cathedral itself is an impressive example of Sicilian Baroque.
Benedictine monastery of San Nicolò: The façade of this huge monastery is richly decorated with sculptures, faces, putti and wrought-iron railings.

The Sicilian Baroque style
Reconstruction: After the earthquake of 1693, which destroyed large parts of the city, Catania was rebuilt in the Baroque style.
Materials: A special feature of Catania is the use of black lava stone from Mount Etna as a building material, which gives the Baroque architecture a unique character.
Architects: The architect Giovanni Battista Vaccarini was instrumental in redesigning the city and played a key role in shaping the Baroque cityscape, including the façade of the cathedral and Via Crociferi.

UNESCO World Heritage Site: The Baroque style of Catania is so significant that the city is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Baroque Cities of the Val di Noto.