Elephant Fountain and Piazza Duomo

Luca Aless · CC BY-SA 4.0

Catania, CT

The black lava elephant, known as u Liotru, is the symbol of Catania and stands in the middle of Piazza Duomo. The lava-stone sculpture carries an Egyptian obelisk and was set in its present form in 1736 by the architect Giovanni Battista Vaccarini.

Around the square stand the Cathedral of Sant'Agata, the Palazzo degli Elefanti, home of the Town Hall, and other Baroque buildings rebuilt after the earthquake of 1693. Everything is built with the black of Etna's lava and the white of limestone.

By day it is the starting point for exploring the historic centre; in the evening it fills with people strolling and with outdoor tables.

• Always accessible
• 30-45 minutes
• Free entry
• All year
• Flat square, suitable for everyone.
• Visit the square in the evening, when it is lit up. A few steps away you will find the Pescheria and the Fontana dell'Amenano.