Porta Catania in Taormina
José Luiz - CC4.0
Porta Catania is the door that delimits the southern part of the main street of Taormina, Corso Umberto I. Porta Messina is, on the other hand, the gateway to the north side. The two entrance gates were part of the triple system of fortifications that developed from the north-east, built by the Arabs to defend the city.
Between the two gates rises the Porta di Mezzo also known as the Clock Tower.
Porta Catania is part of the second city wall built in 1440. Next to Porta Catania stands the 14th century palace of the Dukes of Santo Stefano. The date of construction is engraved in the aedicule depicting the Aragonese coat of arms placed above the arch. Porta Catania is also known as the "door of the Touch" because, in the adjacent square, in Norman times, public meetings were held right at the time of the touch, the first hour after noon.
