Before you see the next façade or hear the next bell, imagine a city raised from black volcanic ash, broken by trembling earth, and still determined to begin again. Catania does not simply preserve its past; it folds it into what came after. Beneath these streets lie older streets. Behind polished Baroque balconies linger scars, fragments, and stubborn memories gathered in stone, ritual, and treasured objects.
As you walk, let your ears guide you as much as your eyes: the murmur of piazzas, the clink of cups from nearby cafés, the dark sheen of lava stone underfoot. Your audio should begin on its own as you approach each place, though you can always press play yourself if needed. If you lose the way, the map in the app will quietly set you right, and at any stop you may ask me questions in the chat.
Do keep an eye on traffic, especially scooters slipping through narrow streets, mind uneven paving, and be sensible with valuables in busy areas.
Now then, the first clue waits inside a prince’s collection, where Catania tried to gather its scattered self
