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Cathedral Square

Piazza Duomo, 95024 Acireale CT, Italia ★★★★☆ 149 views
Freyan Mortimer
Acireale
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About Cathedral Square

Cathedral Square - Acireale | Secret World Trip Planner

The Square gathers architectural gems from the 17th and 12thXth centuries, enhanced by recent restorations. The concrete pavement has been replaced with arabesques of lava stone alternating with the flare of white stone. Whimsical carved figures stand out in every corner of the square, and elegant wrought-iron railings emerge from the terraces of the City Palace. As soon as one reaches the square, another uncommon detail also stands out to the eye: the cathedral's bell towers feature exterior decorative motifs created with polychrome ceramic tiles. Otherwise, one is immersed in a triumph of Gothic that dates back to the twilight of the 16th century.

Cathedral Square - Acireale | Secret World Trip Planner

There are four pivotal buildings in the square: The Cathedral of Maria Santissima Annunziata, attributed to Santa Venera, the city's patron saint. The history of this sacred building dates back to the 15th century, but it was extensively revised later. Inside it holds outstanding works bearing the signatures of Paolo Vasta, Giuseppe Sciuti, Vito D'Anna and many other great artists. The Town Hall, what was once called the Loggia Giuratoria, now includes an exhibition of period military uniforms. It still has a very obvious 17th-century Baroque layout, although it was revised in the 18th century. Its salient features are the masks supporting the balconies. The Basilica of Peter and Paul, erected in 1550 and profoundly revised in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, with the provision of a Baroque layout. In the 19th century the bell tower was implemented. It houses a statue of Christ at the Column, made by an unknown author and much revered by the inhabitants. The former Eldorado Theater (Modò Palace), a building somewhat set back from the Cathedral Square. Masks, Baroque brackets, two balconies and the name "Teatro Eldorado" are the features that surface of the original building, used as a theater until the 1920s.

Cathedral Square - Acireale | Secret World Trip Planner
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Frequently Asked Questions

The square features four pivotal architectural landmarks: the Cathedral of Maria Santissima Annunziata (dating to the 15th century with works by renowned artists), the Town Hall with its distinctive Baroque masks, the Basilica of Peter and Paul (built in 1550 with a revered statue of Christ at the Column), and the former Eldorado Theater (Modò Palace) which operated until the 1920s. Each building showcases different periods of architectural evolution from the 12th to 17th centuries.
The cathedral's bell towers are distinctively decorated with polychrome ceramic tiles featuring exterior decorative motifs, which is an uncommon architectural detail that immediately catches visitors' eyes. This colorful tiling is part of the cathedral's 16th-century Gothic design that has been enhanced through recent restorations.
The cathedral houses outstanding works of art bearing the signatures of renowned masters including Paolo Vasta, Giuseppe Sciuti, and Vito D'Anna, among many other great artists. The interior reflects centuries of religious and artistic heritage, with the building's history dating back to the 15th century before being extensively revised in later periods.
The pavement features beautiful arabesques of lava stone alternating with white stone, creating an elegant geometric pattern throughout the square. Whimsical carved figures stand out in every corner, while elegant wrought-iron railings emerge from the terraces of the City Palace, all enhanced by recent restorations.
The former Eldorado Theater, also known as Modò Palace, is situated somewhat set back from the Cathedral Square itself and operated as a theater until the 1920s. The original building retains distinctive Baroque features including masks, Baroque brackets, and two balconies, with the name 'Teatro Eldorado' still visible on its facade.