European Association of Faculty of Pharmacy

Tourist information

Catania, second biggest city in Sicily, is worldly known for its volcano Mount Etna (highest active volcano in Europe).
The bond between the city and the vulcano is present everywhere; in the black stones of the streets, in the big shape of the mountain you can see at the end of Via Etnea, in the symbol of the city, a lava stone statue of an elephant known as U' Liotru, and in the ancient buildings that have survived the Etna’s various eruptions and the earthquakes.

Indeed, throughout the centuries, Catania has been destroyed by eruptions and earthquakes several times. In 1693, most of the city disappeared, after an earthquake destroyed the entire area from Catania as far as Syracuse. The citizens chose to stay in their city and started to build it again right after the earthquake.

Catania is now an exhibition of baroque style and his centre full of baroque and historical churches is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

But if you look attentively, you can see the remains of the various civilizations that have chosen Catania as their home in the preceding centuries: the Greek theatre, the Roman amphitheatre, the medieval Ursino Castle...

One of the wonders of Catania is the Benedictine Monastery, where the EAFP congress will take place.
It is this place where, in 1669, a huge river of lava covered the 16th century Spanish walls and part of the old monastery. The monastery, far from being only another example of beautiful Baroque style, is a masterpiece of engineering. Right after the 1669 eruption stopped, the architects started to build the monastery on the cold lava flow. The demostration of their arts is now visitable in the old kitchens of the monastery.

Free visits fo the old kitchen ore possible on Thurday 24 June from 10:00 a.m. to 13.00 a.m. before the begininng of the congress. If you are interested please send an e-mail to info@eafp.it

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