Social Program
Tour of the "Monastero dei Benedettini (14th September)
We have scheduled the “Traditional” visit to the Benedictine Monastery at the end of the Conference, in order to see the most important spaces of the Monastery: the two cloisters, the cellars of the XVI century today transformed into the faculty library, the roman domus (house), the ‘Night Choir' with its ‘balcony’ on the main altar of San Nicolò l’Arena Church, the Novices Garden and the kitchen and cellars of the XVIII century realised by the architect Vaccarini.
The Monastery of San Nicolò l’Arena is a late baroque monument and one of the biggest Benedictine monastery in Europe. The construction of the building started in 1500 and has continued until today. It is an example of architectonical integration of different styles through different epoch and the monastery is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
It hosts the Department of Humanities of the University of Catania.
A walk in Syracuse (15th September)
Syracuse is one of the most beautiful and well-known tourist cities of the world, more than three thousand years of history are held by its territory.
Its archaeological, cultural and artistic heritage is a perfect synthesis of the whole history of Sicily: the entire urban center, world heritage site since 2005, offers to the passengers the sensation of travelling in far-off times without any stops.
For the accompanying person we have planned a day in Syracuse and the itinerary will permitted to visit the most important sites in Ortigia Island (the Apollo Temple, the Cathedral Duomo, the beautiful square Piazza Duomo surrounded by several Baroque buildings, Minerva Temple, Fonte Aretusa).
The Ortigia Island is the beating heart of the whole city: it is big just one square kilometer but it is a delightful treasure chest and there are natural beauties ready to amaze you. Temples, castles, ancient habitations and baroque churches establish the charm of the small island dedicated to Artemide. Ortigia will stun the tourist because it is on a human scale, because its calmness and by the small street market which is the city soul.
The next stage, after lunch and a little time for shopping, is the Archaeological Park of Neapolis. Inside the Neapolis Archaeological, there are most of the classical monuments of the Greek and Roman Siracusa. It was built using the funds of the Fund for the South, between the 1952 and the 1955, with the aim of gathering inside a unique area all the monuments of the ancient neighborhood. You can visit the Roman Amphitheatre, the Ierone Altar, the Greek Theater, the Latomia del Paradiso, the Cordari Cave and the Dionysus Ear.
Gala Dinner at "Palazzo Biscari" (15th September)
Palazzo Biscari is a private palace in Catania and it was built by will of the Paternò Castello family, the princes of Biscari, starting from the late 17th century, lasting for much of the following century, after the devastations of the 11 January 1693 earthquake. The new palace was built directly against the city walls (Charles V's walls), which had partially withstood the earthquake.
It is one of the most magnificent private building in Catania, is unique in terms of structure, outlay and decoration. From the sea, the palace afforded a view of decorated balconies and flowered pilasters. Decorative vestments, putti and telamons emerge from the black lavic base.
Today the central courtyard of the palace is surrounded by constructions of various epochs and is dominated by the central double spiral staircase, which leads into the most important part of the edifice.
Inside the viewer is enchanted by the style and splendor of the materials and colors used in art.
The palace is today still largely inhabited by descendants of the family and its main halls are often used for various cultural and social event as “JCM 2016 Gala Dinner”.
A walk in Catania
Catania is a wonderful combination of ancient and modern, the city faces the Ionian Sea and it is situated under the biggest active volcano in Europe. Catania is well known for its particular baroque architecture and urban design (the downtown area is a World Heritage Site), consequences of the great earthquake of 1693 after which the city had to be rebuilt, like most of eastern Sicily.
Baroque from Catania has several unique features such as use of dark lava stone (basalt), the Bell in the facade itself and grotesque masks and putti.
Some of the best feature of Catania's area are the Baroque architecture and Roman ruins, mainly situated in the center of the city.
One of the best Roman structures that can still be seen is the Roman Theatre in Via Vittorio Emanuele, surrounded by later buildings. Next door is the round Odeon, a smaller auditorium. Close by in Via Rotonda, the church of Santa Maria della Rotonda is founded on the remains of Roman baths. The lava-and-marble Roman Amphitheatre, part of which can be seen in Piazza Stesicoro, dates to the second century AD.
Among Catania's more recent sights are the many Baroque churches and palazzi, including the heavily-peopled facade of Palazzo Biscari. Piazza del Duomo is Catania's principal square, where in its center rises the eighteenth-century Elephant Fountain, a lava statue of an elephant supporting an Egyptian obelisk. The Duomo itself is one of Catania's grandest sights. The facade dates from the Baroque rebuilding of the town, although some of the earlier church did survive the earthquake.
Remaining sights to see in Catania include the black-and-white Porta Garibaldi and the striking uncompleted facade of the Chiesa di San Nicolò in Piazza Dante. The town's theatre, Teatro Massimo Bellini, has a grand frontage and a lavish interior. Its name honors local hero Vincenzo Bellini (1801-1835), the composer of “Norma” opera.
Extra Congress Tour
If you are interested to visit the Etna, the most important Volcano in Europe, and its craters please contact Francesca Campagna, for any help on type of excursions, fare and reservations with the best tour operators.
Francesca Campagna
Conference Secretariat JCM 2016 Catania
Tel: + 39 393 99 07 871
secretariat@jcm2016ct.com
