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MUSEUMS
IN CATANIA
Museo Comunale –
Castello (Cumunal Museum – Castle):
has its seat in the Ursino Castle, a building from 1239/50,
which faces onto Piazza Federico di Svevia. Built on the wishes
of Federico II, it was the residence of the Aragons during
the 14th Century and was subsequently enclosed by defensive
walls. The transformation of the building came about at the
end of 1693 when it was gravely damaged by an earthquake,
which was once again repeated in 1818. The first restoration,
even though not fully philological, dates back to 1934 when
the Communal Museum was established and its collection from
the Benedictines saw a union with that of the Princes Bragaglia
and of the Zappalà barons. The visit therefore also
allows, other than the enjoyment of exhibited material, the
walk across the structure of the ancient castle. The material
from the rich and important collection is heterogeneous: walking
through the various rooms, visitors will come across classical
fragments and archaeological finds, Medieval and Renaissance
armature, sculptures that come from the 12th Century to the
Renaissance, pictures, furniture objects and 18th Century
vestments.
Casa di Giovanni Verga (Giovanni Verga’s House):
can be found at the angle of Via S. Anna. It’s a building
from the late 18th Century. It was the palazzo of the Verga
Catalano family, with the apartment of the author remaining
unaltered in almost all its furnishings and fitments. The
small living area is interesting but most of all the study-library
area where there’s still a collection conserved of romance
novels written by the author. The furniture is the same that
Verga had in his house in Milan and which was later transferred
here.
Museo Belliniano:
in Piazza S. Francesco d’Assisi (known as the Floor
of Grass). It was the house of the Bellini family and is on
five floors which can all be visited; there are relics and
testimonies preserved from the various phases of the life
of the great musician, through the different points of his
career in Catania, Naples, Milan, London and Paris. There
are also some autographed works preserved.
Palazzo Gravina Cruyllas:
in Via Vittorio Emanuele.. From 1994 hosts the Emilio Greco
Museum, dedicated to the noted contemporary artist. Here,
the entire graphic corpus of the artist is exhibited.
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