Via Crociferi in Catania
Via Crociferi is one of the oldest streets in Catania, in the heart of the historic center.
This street is considered the emblem of the Catania Baroque, as it houses some of the most beautiful eighteenth-century churches in the city. It begins in Piazza San Francesco d'Assisi crossing the famous triumphal Arch of San Benedetto, to which the legend of the headless horse is linked, continuing the rhyme church that meets is the Church of San Benedetto connected to the convent of the same name. It is said that from the balconies of the convent, hidden by the grates, the nuns and aristocrats from Catania watched the procession during the feast of Sant'Agata.
Continuing along Via Crociferi, a few meters away, you will find the Church of San Francesco Borgia with two large stone stairways. Not far away is the Jesuit College, for years the seat of the Art Institute of Catania, with its cloister, arcades and lava stone columns. Just opposite the Jesuit College is the Church of San Giuliano attributed to the work of the architect Vaccarini. After having crossed the San Giuliano slope that via Crociferi cuts, you will find the Convent of the Crociferi with the adjoining Church of San Camillo, famous for the Madonna with Child on a table, kept inside, perhaps from the Byzantine era.
At the end of the street is Villa Cerami, one of the most prestigious buildings in eighteenth-century Catania, now home to the Faculty of Law of the University of Catania.
Its beauty is such that it is a perfect open-air film set. We are not surprised to know that in recent times the street has been chosen as the location of "the art of getting by" by Zampa with Alberto Sordi, "Il bell'Antonio" by Bolognini, "Storia di una capinera" by Zeffirelli, de " I Vicerè ”of Faenza and many others.
