La Fountain of the Seven Canals and the fountain older than Catania; is located inside the Fish market (Seafood and raw fish). It is currently undergoing surgery to restore functionality and appearance along with many other parts of the historic market of Catania.
The Fountain of the Seven Canals
It is also known as Fountain of the Seven Cannolas or "of the seven Canneddi" for its particular shape: a large decorated polychrome marble basin from which seven mouths, or seven jets of water, emerge. It evokes the seven arms in which the deltas of the Amenano River they threw themselves into the sea. The Fountain of the Seven Canals is one of the sites where it is still possible to see the waters of the river buried by theeruption of the 1669The underground river also feeds the elephant fountain, the fountain of water or Linzolu , Sant'Agata fountain in Via DusmetThe fountain also survived the 1693 earthquake.
It is located behind the Amenano Fountain, allocated in Alonzo di Benedetto Square, in an arch of the side wall of the Palace of the ChericiIts location is lower than the level of Piazza Duomo precisely because the city was rebuilt on its ruins.
The Fountain of the Seven Canals was built in 1621, under the Viceroy D. Pietro Girone Duke of Ossuna, on behalf of king of Spain and of Sicily Philip III, as can be read in the marble inscription. In those years, the viceroy had developed a precise plan for the city's beautification and decoration.
The great importance of the fountain
The Seven Canals was the city's first public fountain, used primarily to supply ships in the nearby port. It also once served as a public washhouseThe people of Catania exploited its waters for domestic purposes for a long time. It was later discovered that the water was contaminated and undrinkable. Its use was therefore prevented by building a fence that is still present today and left as a historic site.
According to some theories of eminent scholars, the Fountain of the Seven Canals was born following another source, however constituted by as many as 36 channels, built in 1612, now walled up but still visible, which recall the canals of the Amenano delta. The latter was mostly destroyed; the Sette Canali canal is smaller and remains as a reminder of the larger one.
Maintenance work at the Fountain of the Seven Canals
The interventions were started on September 22nd maintenance and restoration conservative of the Fish market (Seafood and raw fish) and its main historical elements, in the presence of the extraordinary commissioner of the Municipality of Catania, Federico Portoghese, and other institutions.
The October 2021 flood that struck Catania, damaging the historic center in particular, caused the greatest damage inside the Pescheria. Specifically, the flood of October 25, 2021, caused the detachment of the marble plaque atop the monument, certifying its construction by the Viceroy Pietro Girone, Duke of Ossuna. The block of marble, cracked in one corner, was floating in the Pescheria, submerged in mud, and was found by a private citizen.
The epigraph on the marble slab, which will be restored, reports the phrase in Latin: “DOM Philippo III Hispaniarum et Siciliae Rege invictissimo D. Petro Giron Ossunae Dvce Pro rege, D. Carolvs Gravina Patritivs, Don Matthevs De Alagona,D. Hieronymus Paterno, Fabritivs Tornambeni, Hercvles Tvdiscvs, Joannes Baptista Scammacca et Don Ioseph Fimia Vrbis Senatores, canals aquae vetustate pene collapsos marble works magnificentiore forma reficiendos publica imppensa curaverunt"
Like the fountain, it will be restored using careful conservation methods to restore it to its former splendor.
Restoration work at the Pescheria
Immediately after the completion of the restoration of the Fountain of the Seven Canals, maintenance work will begin on the fish market, especially on the vault of the gallery. fish market with the restoration of theancient Gate of Charles V, formerly known as Canal GateIt took its name from the fountain of the same name that it overlooked. The Gate was built to be the main opening to the south, replacing the Porticciolo Gate and Gate of the TenthAccording to sources, on the walls in front of the Gate and above it there was a sort of tribune adorned with paintings depicting the story of the river god Amenano; the structure was destroyed by the eruption of 1669.
The restoration work will include the installation of new electrical and lighting systems, painting, and the restoration of ironwork.
The two projects will cost a total of €110, €90 of which will be collected from the tourist tax. They were also funded thanks to the extraordinary fundraising effort for the Palermo-Catania Cuore match, which raised approximately €20, which will be used to secure the Pescheria area.
We hope these two return to their former beauty. such important symbols of Catania's history.
Even the historical one Garibaldi Street is undergoing modernization and redevelopment works. In particular, the road surface will be completely redone over an area of approximately 1.200 meters, from Piazza Duomo a Porta Garibaldi. The work also includes repairing the sidewalks to ensure water drainage. Some cross streets on Via Garibaldi where the asphalt is cracked have also been resurfaced.
Cover source: Catania Community Policies Facebook page
