Catania
All ancient authors agree in representing Catania as a Greek colony named “ Katane “ of Chalcidic origin. The exact date of its foundation is not recorded, but it appears from Thucydides to have followed shortly after that of Leontini, which he places in the fifth year after Syracuse, or 729 BC.
The name “ Katane “ should means grater, flaying knife, because of lava ground on which it rises.
The only event of its early history which has been transmitted to us is the legislation of Charondas, and even of this the date is wholly uncertain.
It seems to have retained its independence till the time of Hieron of Syrcuse, but that despot, in 476 BC, expelled all the original inhabitants and at the same time changed its name in Aitna.
A few years after the death of Hieron and the expulsion of Thrasybulus, the Syracusans combined with Ducetius to expel the newly settled inhabitants of Catania while the old Chalcidic citizens were reinstated in the possession of Catania, 461 BC.
The period which followed the settlement of affairs at this epoch appears to have been of great prosperity for Catania. In 403 BC. it fell into the power of Dionysius I of Syracuse. He gave up to plunder, after which he established there a body of Campanian mercenaries.
In the First Punic War, Catania was one of the first among the cities of Sicily, which made their submission to the Roman Repubblic, after the first successes of their arms in 263 BC. Cicero repeatedly mention it as, in his time, a flourishing and wealthy city and appears to have been one of the principal port of Sicily. It retained its colonial rank throughout the period of Roman Empire.
The Roman influence remains in the ruins of ancient theatres and numerous archaeological findings. These important monuments of Catania date back to the Roman period of domination when the city thrived on commercial growth. The city has two Roman amphitheatres. The smaller one was built upon an earlier Greek theatre and is open to the public. The nearby odeum, could hold about 1,300. A larger amphitheatre is a completely Roman structure built in the second century AD. The piazza is named for Stesichorus, a Greek poet who lived in Catania during the 6th century BC.
In 535 Catania was recovered by Belisarius from Goths and became again, under the rule of Byzantine Empire, one of the most important cities of the island. Byzantine art is also symbolized by one of the most important figures in the city : the elephant, carved out of lava stone and situated in Piazza Duomo, which became the symbol of the city.
The Arabs landed in Sicily in 827 AD and later the Normans took over from them in 1071 and entered the city of Catania guided by Count Ruggero.The city lost its autonomy under the Normans, that in part had managed to keep in spite of the continuous changes in rulers, and it became a feudal city to all effects. Catania was extensively destroyed by a terrible earthquakes in 1169. Thirty years later, while the city was still working on reconstruction, Catania supported Altavilla against Henry VI, son of Barbarossa : the imperial reaction was very violent, culminating in a fire that destroyed part of the city including the Cathedral.
Under Frederick II ( 1240 ), Catania was finally freed from its feudal condition : it was recognized as a Borough and became quite independent. There is a little remaining evidence of this medieval period, however. Art, literature and culture were encouraged and developed grandly in the city. Frederick II was responsible for the construction of the magnificent medieval Castello Ursino which, even today, still holds an imposing position over the city.
The most unpopular period of domination was that of the Angevin administration which fortunately only lasted for thirty years and was followed by the long and successful reign of the Aragonese from Spain who were present on the island from the end of the 13th century for the next four centuries. They elected Catania the political and cultural capital of the island and Castello Ursino became the principal royal residence as well as the headquarters for the first Sicilian parliament.
The Spanish were extremely important for the economic, cultural and demographic growth of Catania.
Frederick III of Aragon was crowned king of Sicily and set some important political seats in Catania. The cultural growth that took place was symbolized by the founding of the University ( 1434 ), the first in Sicily.
The second half of 1600 was an extremely tragic period in Catania’s history : in 1669 there was a violent eruption of Etna and it covered everything with lava. Less than thirty years later ( 1693 ) an earthquake destroyed anything that was still left.
Catania managed to react to these natural calamities, and started a huge building project that foresaw wide use of black lava and light-colored limestone. The city was one huge, city building site for decades and slowly the Baroque aspect that still characterizes the city began to form.
During the Risorgimento period, Catania rebelled against the Bourbons in 1837 and in 1848, freeing itself permanently in 1860 when the Thousand conquered Palermo. Catania was annexed to the Kingdom of Italy.
The Opera composer Vincenzo Bellini was born in Catania, and a museum exists in his birthplace. The Teatro Massimo Bellini, which opened in 1890, is named after the composer. Catania has given the birthdays to famous personages in literature field : Capuana, Verga and De Roberto.