Catania, called “The black city” because of the volcanic stone extensively used in Architecture, is an urban centre continuously reconstructed from its ashes. This is a story of fire, devastation and rebirth, shaped by the unpredictable will of Mt. Etna, the most active volcano in Europe. We will follow an itinerary centred on the bond between “The Mountain”, as the locals call it, and the city itself. In particular, our leitmotiv will be the discovery of lost natural features and structures of the historic centre rebuilt or modified according to the Baroque style after the eruption occurred in 1669. Some years later, the eruption was followed by what is considered the largest seismic catastrophe in Eastern Sicily. The architect in charge of the restoration, Vaccarini, exploited the massive amount of local lava stone in order to create refined structures, re-elaborating themes and cults of the past.Photo Credit: © Riccardo Lombardo. Source: CuboImages