Villa Pacini

Villa Pacini is an urban park in Catania that extends in a triangular shape between Cardinale Dusmet Street and Borsellino Square, featuring a central fountain and several marble monuments. The grounds include playgrounds for families and seating areas where visitors can observe the Amenano River before it flows into the sea.

The park was established during the Risorgimento period and underwent major changes when the Messina-Siracusa railway line was built in 1866. This infrastructure project permanently shaped the layout and surroundings of the grounds.

The park was renamed in 1978 to honor Giovanni Pacini, a celebrated opera composer whose marble bust by Giovanni Dupré stands here. It connects the memory of this artistic figure with the everyday life of the city and invites visitors to engage with local heritage.

The park is easily accessible and offers plenty of shade from its trees along with seating areas for rest. Visitors should come in the early morning or late afternoon to enjoy the most pleasant temperatures and avoid crowds.

Two headless statues of Bourbon kings of Naples stand in the park, marking a spot of strong local meaning. At this location, laundresses once washed clothes in the river, showing how closely the city's history ties to this green space.