Piazza Vincenzo
Bellini,
more simply called by the people of Catania “ Piazza Teatro
Massimo” for the presence of the famous theatre, after a
restoration lasted for 15 months, was given back to the city the
13th of May 2007. The works were financed with funds of the
Region and they regarded the total restoration of the whole
place, of via Michele Rapisardi and via Teatro Massimo. The
pavements were eliminated and the level of the place was put at
the same height and it was paved with lava stone slabs. In the
end were placed 46 benches and 59 flower vases. Also the “
“Fontana dei Delfini” by Vaccarini was restored; it is placed on
a base of steps in white stone from Comiso. Piazza Teatro
Massimo is the centre of “movida catanese” (amusements) after
the sunset.
In this place
there is the magnificent theatre Bellini, the temple of
classical music dedicated to the memory of the great composer
Vincenzo Bellini, where is carried out an intense season of
operas and symphony concerts. The theatre is by Carlo Sada and
it was inaugurated in 1830. The nineteenth century style is
eclectic. The façade is constituted by a central and advanced
body with a double order of arcades. The sculpturesque
decoration is based on the triumph of music and arts. “Piazza
Bellini” is certainly not an example of architectural harmony.
Around the “ Fontana dei Delfini” rise buildings and
constructions of different styles and periods. The “Casa del
Mutilato” was planned and built in 1939 by Ercole Fiscetti. The
entrance is closed within a great triumphal arch on which a
Latin inscription and a crown of celebrative statues stand out.
The side- walls are enlivened by the polychrome mosaics. The
entrance is characterized by crossing beams, roman trophies and
soldiers heads.
