Dei due architetti e urbanisti più importanti di Catania, nessuno era da Catania. Giovanni Battista Vaccarani (architetto del Duomo) nacque a Palermo. E Stefano Ittar nacque a Ovruč, una città polacco-lituana in Ucraina.
Tanto della bellezza in Catania che godiamo oggi fu il lavoro di questo magnifico architetto ucraino. La facciata della Basilica della Collegiata, la facciata della Chiesa di San Placido, e la cupola della Chiesa di San Nicola (nell’enorme Monastero dei Benedettini) sono soltanto tre esempi dello splendore del suo lavoro.
Si può anche citare la Porta Ferdinandea (oggi chiamata per il nomaccio stupido “Porta Garibaldi”), un arco trionfale costruito nel 1768 da Ittar insieme con il suocero, Francesco Battaglia (mervaglioso architetto anche lui). | | Of Catania’s two most important architects and city planners, neither was from Catania. Giovanni Battista Vaccarani (architect of the Cathedral) was born in Palermo. And Stefano Ittar was born in Ovruch, a Polish-Lithuanian town in the Ukraine.
So much of Catania’s beauty that we enjoy today was the work of this magnificent Ukrainian architect. The façade of the Basilica della Collegiata, the façade of the Church of St. Placido, and the dome of the Church of St. Nicholas (in the enormous Benedictine Monastery) are but three examples of the splendor of his work.
One may also mention the Porta Ferdinandea (called today by the stupid name “Porta Garibaldi”), a triumphal arch built in 1768 by Ittar together with his father-in-law, Francesco Battaglia (himself a marvelous architect). |
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Beautiful! The first church reminds me of some of Borromini's work in Rome, only even more extravagantly lovely, if that's possible... !
RispondiEliminaYes, there is something extravagant (in a positive way) about Baroque architecture in Spain and Sicily. Thanks for commenting!
Elimina