Any day in Catania involves a traffic jam of some description. "Molto traffico!" Saturdays are often worse than others. It took quite a while to navigate the narrow streets, all of course with cars , vans and trucks parked at all angles, all over the place, sticking out to block the streets, and with much honking of horns/claxions. Finally we reached the equally noisy fish market. An experience not to be missed.
Today we also saw evidence of at least 6 weddings. And to make the traffic even worse it was Saint Rita's day, with many women dressed to please or remember her, in simple black long dresses with a white top. At first we thought those in these costumes may have been in a choir. Later we noticed young girls were wearing the outfits also. Most carrying a long-stemmed red rose. Still later at the Castel Ursino we met a family with a sleeping baby a few months old, in pram, dressed as Saint Rita. Without a rose.
Teatro Massimo Bellini in Catania. on the night of Friday June 10, a magnificent performance of Spartacus - Balletto Classico.
This narrow "street" on the left side of the theatre building is now named after Maria Callas... Bellini's famous opera Norma was one of her favourites, which she sang here at Teatro Massimo Bellini.
Inside the reception foyer... never-ending mirrors.
The sophisticated chandelier in the foyer / reception room
