The Roman Amphitheater in Piazza Stesicoro, a tourist site that has been closed for several years despite being one of the remaining symbols of ancient Catania, will reopen on Wednesday, July 3 at 6:00 p.m. The monument has been under the management of the Municipality for a few weeks thanks to a collaboration agreement stipulated between the Municipal Administration and the Regional Archaeological Park.
Municipality staff and Colosseum ticket office
On April 24, the municipal council approved the collaboration scheme with which the Archaeological Park allows the Municipality to use its professionally qualified staff for the public enjoyment and enhancement of the Roman Amphitheater. The Municipality has entrusted the ticket office and access to the Roman amphitheater to Coop Cultura, a company that manages the same activities at the Colosseum. The entrance ticket to the amphitheater will cost 4 euros, with reductions for university students, schools, seniors over 65, military personnel and resident citizens. Free admission for disabled people, children under 10, tour guides and journalists. For the inaugural afternoon, access will be free for everyone with musicians from the Catania music conservatory who will perform in artistic performances. The summer hours for visits to the remains of the Amphitheater are continuous, every day, from 9 to 19 – last admissions at 18.30.
Amphitheater cleaned up
The Municipal Administration has cleaned up the spaces inside the amphitheater, which can now be visited more completely than before, reorganized the entrance system and improved tourist signage. “We are proud and honored to return one of its symbolic monuments to the city – commented Mayor Trantino – a goal that we have set ourselves since our inauguration given the difficulties of the Region in keeping the site open. It was really painful to see it closed with so many tourists forced to remain outside”.
The contribution of the University and the Cnr
“We have taken responsibility to enhance the remains of ancient Catania, finding institutional collaboration in the Region, the Superintendency, the University and the CNR who have collaborated to achieve an objective that I do not hesitate to define as of historical importance for our city, an added value for the many visitors who come to Catania from all over the world”, explains the mayor, who has kept the delegation for Culture for himself. The University of Catania – School of Specialization in Archaeological Heritage / National Research Council Institute of Cultural Heritage Sciences have made available captions and videos of a scientific project carried out years ago, still very current.
Night opening also under consideration
Mayor Trantino announced that activities related to the best use of the site are also being planned, both with research institutions and with interventions to safeguard and enhance the monument even at night. The reopening event will be attended by Mayor Enrico Trantino, Prefect Maria Carmela Librizzi, Director of the Catania Archaeological Park Giuseppe D’Urso, Superintendent of Cultural Heritage Donatella Aprile, President of the City Council Sebastiano Anastasi, President of the University High School, Daniele Malfitana, and city councilors and assessors.
