Itinerary 2: THE CITY CENTRE HEADING EAST

The Route

The Stages
Departing from Crispi square which is at the railway station, you will proceed straight ahead along the main road and reach (1) Cairoli Square, where you will find the Anchors Fountain (photo), built in 1937; continuing along "Corso Umberto" you will come to the intersection where the road crosses "Corso Roma", this is where "Corso Garibaldi" begins (photo). On the left of this intersection is (2) "Victory Square" (Piazza della Vittoria) where you can admire the historic fountain built in 1618 by royal governor Peter Louis De Torres (photo). This fountain was built for the use of the soldiers of the Spanish galleon who were at anchor in the harbour. All citizens contributed financially for the construction of this fountain; a marble basin, previously used as a christening font was used, on which four fountain jets were attached.
Continuing up the square and crossing "Via Santi" you will reach the (3) New Theatre "G. Verdi", a modern steel construction, covered with vertical stave sheeting. At the entrance, the bass-relief created by Amerigo Tot, stands out for all to admire (photo). It is very interesting to visit the archaeological site which lies under the new theatre: it is a Roman quarter measuring approximately 5,000 sq.m with ancient buildings decorated in marbles, mosaics, some thermal springs and a large street made from flat stone (photo).
Exiting this site and turning right on "via Tarantafilo", you will enter the ancient area of (4) San Pietro degli Schiavoni, named after the Slavic and Albanians who inhabited this area for half of XV century. These houses with "cannizzo rooves", being a double-layer sloping roof top, made from wood rafters and cane, are typical of this area. From the characteristic little square of "Largo dè Calò" (photo) it is possible to admire the beautiful "cupola" (dome) of the church of St. Michele the Archangel (also known as "Pious Schools") which is covered by polychrome majolica tiles (more info and photos).
From "via Balzo", just behind the new theatre, you will reach "Via Duomo" , turn right and after few meters, on the left you will have arrive at (5) Granafei-Nervegna, a building of the XVI century (photo), where you can admire the balconies, portal and the ancient façade. Inside there are interesting art exhibition and, into the museum, the original capital of the Roman Column (photo).
On the right of this small square, you can see an antique arch from medieval age (photo). Continuing on Via Duomo and turning left into "Via Casimiro", more ancient (6) ruins, houses and a temple can be seen (photo) from late roman times. Some archaeological finds from this area are kept in the provincial Museum.
Turning back and then left into "Matteotti Square", you will have arrived at the Town Hall. Crossing over Piazza Vittoria and then "Corso Garibaldi" you will then reach the small "Piazza del Popolo", where you will see the statue of "Augusto Imperator" (Emperor Augustus - photo), a replica of this statue is kept in the Vatican Museum.
Continuing and arriving into "Anime Square" you will find the (7) church of St. Sebastian also known as "The Church of Souls", (more info and photos).
Continuing on the narrow "Via Protospata", you will reach "Via Lata", just in front of the beautiful lodge and portal of the Greco building, which is of XVII century (photo). Turning left and continuing for approximately 200 meters, on the left you can visit the interesting (8) church and crypt of St. Lucy, this being from the XI century (more info and photos).
Continuing on "via Lata", on the left, (No. 91), you will find the XVIth century (9) Ripa building, where you can pleasingly see the durazzesco-angevin portal carrying the coat of arms (photo), and the characteristic arch placed side by side in the lateral alley. A little ahead on the right (No. 112), there is the Orlandini building, with its valuable portal and XVIth century coat of arms (photo) set between the windows.
Turning back and then left, you will enter "Via Madonna della Scala", and approximately half way down the road, on the left is the (10) church of "Madonna della Scala" (Our Lady of the Ladder) founded by the Amalfitani colony in the XII century (more info and photos). At the end of this street, there is a striking view of the east-cove of the inner port (photo). Following "Via Taranto" for approximately 400 meters and turning left into "Via dè Roma", on the left, you will have reached the large square which is dominated by Porta Lecce, another of the ancient gates to the city; here you will find the entrance of the (11) Church of Christ, with its splendid rose-window on the facade (more info and photos). Coming down the stairs from the square, you will pass through the ancient south-gate of the city, known as (12) Porta Lecce (photo), close by the ancient wall of the town. On the external wall of this gate you can see the coat of arms of Charles V (photo).

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