In the eastern part of Sicily, as well as in one of the regional capitals, the new destination of our trip to the Italy of companies is situated: Catania Fontanarossa.
This new stop offers us the opportunity to explore one of the best-known cities in Sicily, with an ancient foundation and great cultural importance.
History and Tradition: a journey into Catania’s Past
Catania is, after Palermo, the city with the most inhabitants in Sicily: almost 297 thousand. An ancient port city and located at the foot of Etna, Catania is now one of the places with the greatest economic growth on the island.
It was founded in 729-728 BC, by some Greek colonists from the island of Naxos, with the name of Katane and, from that moment, it became an important Greek commercial center as well as a fundamental exchange point between Sicily and Greece. The situation changed in the 5th century BC, when Catania experienced a negative period due to the Syracusan domination first with the tyrant Hieron I and then with Dionysius I of Syracuse.
At the end of the Syracusan domination, Catania became part of the Roman province of Sicily and experienced a period of prosperity especially from an architectural point of view. In fact, buildings such as the Roman theater and the baths date back to this period.
From 1402 to 1416, it became the capital of the Kingdom of Sicily under the Aragonese king Martin I. In 1434, the University of Catania was founded, the oldest in Sicily and one of the oldest in Italy.
In the 17th century, Catania was hit by two natural disasters: an eruption of Etna in 1669, and the Val di Noto earthquake in 1693. Especially following the second, the city will be rebuilt in full Sicilian Baroque style.
Following the Congress of Vienna (1814-15), the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies was born on ’8 December 1816. Catania was one of the 7 provinces of Sicily (the Kingdom overall was made up of 22 provinces throughout Italy).
Finally, the city became part of the Kingdom of Italy in 1860 and was very patriotically active during the Risorgimento period.
As regards the etymology of Catania, however, there are three different theories. For the Greek historian Plutarch, the name derives from the Sicilian term katane which means “grater” and recalls the conformation of the lava territory or from the Latin word cathinum (i.e. basin, basin), due to the location of the city, surrounded by hills.
According to another theory the name would be of Greek origin: it derives from katà-Aitnè, that is “near Etna”, due to the location of the city.
What to See in Catania: from Piazza del Duomo to Giovanni Verga’s House.
One of the best-known places in Catania is Piazza Duomo, where the statue “O Liotru”, i.e. the little elephant, symbol of the city, is located. According to popular tradition, this statue is a sort of amulet of the city, protector of volcanic eruptions and lucky charm. The term “Liotru” derives from the name Heliodorus, a noble magician who, according to legend, shaped the statue from lava stone and gave it life. When the magician was then killed, the elephant was petrified and took its master’s name.
At the base of the statue, there is a fountain, which acquired its current shape in 1736, despite being composed of elements of different ages: the obelisk, for example, dates back to the time of the Crusades; while the elephant tusks were added after the earthquake of 1693.
On the sides of the square there are the Palazzo degli Elefanti, seat of the town hall and the Palazzo dei Chierici.
Another symbol of the city, as well as an obligatory stop, is the Cathedral of Sant’Agata, patron saint of Catania, much loved and widely celebrated on 5 February. The Cathedral was rebuilt several times before reaching its current shape. The first reconstruction dates back to around 1070 and only the apse remains of this. Today’s appearance is the result of work held between 1734 and 1761. The external facade is made of Carrara marble, with statues of the patron saint distributed across all orders; the interior, however, has a Latin cross plan, divided into three naves. Furthermore, in the Cathedral you can admire the chapel of Sant’Agata, which houses the relics of the Saint. In front of the altar there is also the tomb of the famous Catanian composer Vincenzo Bellini.
The city of Catania also dedicated the Teatro Massimo Vincenzo Bellini to the famous musician, a majestic structure richly decorated with frescoes depicting Bellini himself and his most famous works, first of all La Norma.
For lovers of literature, however, a visit to the Giovanni Verga House Museum is recommended, the place where the writer spent his first years and then died there. In the living room it is possible to admire some manuscripts, as well as a sculptural bust. In the study-library, the heart of the visit, over two thousand books are kept, as well as some memorabilia. The other rooms are also furnished according to the customs and furniture of the time and allow you to take a journey through time and imagine Verga’s life in that place.
What to Eat in Catania: arancini, pasta alla norma and granita
Catania and the Catania area are rich in typical dishes and specialties to taste: there are various specialties from “street food”.
You can’t help but start with the famous arancino, the dish par excellence of street food, based on rice with ragù, peas and ham, fried in a shape reminiscent of a volcano. It is undoubtedly one of the most iconic foods in Sicily and can be found in different variations, such as with pistachio cream and stringy cheese, or with butter, with a soft filling of bechamel, cooked ham and mozzarella.
Furthermore, in the diners, there is no shortage of Catania spring onions, small rolls of puff pastry filled with onions, cheese, sauce and ham and scacciate, or focaccia stuffed in various ways: the most common filling is the one with potatoes, sausage and broccoli or cauliflower “drowned” (i.e., cooked with stewed onion, olives, anchovies and cheese).
Among the first courses, pasta alla norma is a must. This dish takes its name from the aforementioned work by Vincenzo Bellini and has a sauce base to which fried aubergines, basil and grated salted ricotta are added. A fairly simple dish, but one that encompasses the essence of Sicilian cuisine.
As for the second courses, however, Catania is famous for dishes prepared with horse meat, in particular sausages and meatballs. The latter are prepared with minced meat, flavored with aromas and spices and often accompanied by a salad with tomatoes and onion.
Finally, for a sweet conclusion a granita is certainly the best choice, especially in the warmer seasons, but not only. It is one of the foods that cannot be missing if you decide to visit Catania. Much loved by the inhabitants also for breakfast, this dessert is based on ice and can be found in various flavours: the most famous are the lemon and almond one.
If, however, you prefer something less cold, the cassatine di Sant’Agata are famous. They are hemispherical sweets made with ricotta and marzipan, covered with sugar icing and a black cherry which take their name in honor of the patron saint of Catania.
The companies of Catania Fontana Rossa: manufacturing, agri-food tradition and industry towards the future with ultra-broadband
Today, the industrial area of Catania Fontanarossa has around 300 companies operating in different sectors, including construction, metallurgy and wholesale. It is also famous for the processing and trade of citrus fruits and in the past it played a very important role in the exchange of sulphur.
Over the years Catania has experienced growing economic development. The birth of the industrial area dates back to the 1930s, when land was reclaimed in the Pantano D’Arci district, an area close to Fontanarossa Airport and the first factories were established here. Growth continued into the fifties, and in 1963 the ASI Industrial Development Consortium was established, with its own charter that brought the expansion of the area to 1900 hectares.
The development continued even after the establishment of the Consortium, until reaching the current conformation of 300 companies, operating in different sectors.
Among the numerous companies that populate the industrial area of Catania Fontanarossa we find for example the Magris company, specialized in the production of machines, equipment and products for professional cleaning. Founded in 1976, the company has developed over the years to reach diffusion throughout the national territory, thanks to the marketing of its products and the sale and rental of equipment. Over the years it has obtained various quality and sustainability certifications and has equipped itself with modern technologies to improve the production cycle.
Another company in the area is Oranfresh, which manufactures and markets orange and apple juice distributors for any business. Founded in 1969 by Salvatore Torrisi, it was created with the aim of giving an innovative twist to Italian agriculture. Over the years it has evolved thanks to the adoption of various innovative technologies and numerous research studies on robotics and biotechnology. Over the years it then began to export products internationally. In 2007, on the occasion of the Leonardo Prize, the founder received the Special Prize for international trade. Today it also has a factory in the USA and continues to innovate to remain competitive on the global market.
A company specializing in the marketing and processing of reinforced concrete and steel is Sider Sipe, which has been active for over 35 years. The constant growth and appreciation on the market have led to the opening of a second office in Veneto. Both factories are equipped with modern automatic systems and technologies to guarantee the best quality standards for customers and optimize the volume of products.
Looking to the future, the companies of Catania Fontanarossa are today ready for the next step of their competitive development: the implementation of advanced services such as IoT, AI, cyber security and cloud, thanks to the creation of an innovative fiber optic infrastructure up to 10G with guaranteed transmission speed created by FibreConnect.
Ultra-broadband will encourage the development of new services and improve production processes, making these industrial areas even more competitive and attractive for national and international investors.
Another step forward for the economy and the artisanal excellence of our country, towards an increasingly connected and international future.