Piazza Bellini (Bellini Square), Catania
Close by the Church of the Saint Agatha, in the center of Catania, is Bellini Square. It is in the form of a great circle paved with white and grey stones laid down in overlapping concentric arcs. At the edge of the widest circle of tiles, across from the Massimo Bellini Theater, are benches, plantings and trees.
In the center of the square is the 18th century Fountain of the Dolphins, designed by architect Giovanni Battista Vacarrini. The Massimo Bellini Theatre is the gem of the square, a neo-Baroque theater dedicated to the world famous composer, Vincenzo Bellini. The theater was designed by architects Andrea Scala and Carlo Sala.
The Massimo Bellini Theatre is an opera house. It opened in May 1890 with the world premier of the opera Norma, by Catania composer, Vincenzo Bellini. The Sicilian Baroque style of the Opera house blends well with the other buildings on the square.
During the day the square is a great place to find peace in the shade of the trees, away from the madding, crowded Cathedral Square. In the Bellini Square liveliness comes at night.
In the center of the square is the 18th century Fountain of the Dolphins, designed by architect Giovanni Battista Vacarrini. The Massimo Bellini Theatre is the gem of the square, a neo-Baroque theater dedicated to the world famous composer, Vincenzo Bellini. The theater was designed by architects Andrea Scala and Carlo Sala.
The Massimo Bellini Theatre is an opera house. It opened in May 1890 with the world premier of the opera Norma, by Catania composer, Vincenzo Bellini. The Sicilian Baroque style of the Opera house blends well with the other buildings on the square.
During the day the square is a great place to find peace in the shade of the trees, away from the madding, crowded Cathedral Square. In the Bellini Square liveliness comes at night.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Catania. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
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Piazza Bellini (Bellini Square) on Map
Sight Name: Piazza Bellini (Bellini Square)
Sight Location: Catania, Italy (See walking tours in Catania)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Catania, Italy (See walking tours in Catania)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Catania, Italy
Create Your Own Walk in Catania
Creating your own self-guided walk in Catania is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Catania Introduction Walking Tour
The old Sicilian word "katane" is often translated as "harsh ground" or "sharp stones." Black lava from Mount Etna has swamped the area many times. Other disasters include earthquakes, invasions and wars.
The original village of Katane was occupied by Greek settlers in the eighth century BC. During the first Punic War, Catania became a Roman city. The Vandals... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.8 Km or 2.4 Miles
The original village of Katane was occupied by Greek settlers in the eighth century BC. During the first Punic War, Catania became a Roman city. The Vandals... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.8 Km or 2.4 Miles
Historical Churches Walking Tour
Just as many other Italian destinations, the Sicilian city of Catania is full of churches, especially in the historic center, where the presence of religious sites is particularly high! A good number of local churches date back centuries, and as such represent marvelous pieces of architecture, adding much character to the area. It is also commonplace to find inside most of them, be it a duomo,... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.6 Km or 1 Miles
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.6 Km or 1 Miles