Piazza Mazzini, Catania

Piazza Giuseppe Mazzini is a city square in the historic center of Catania, region of Sicily, Italy; it is remarkable for being ringed by 32 columns, putatively derived from an Ancient Roman basilica, arrayed in four nearly symmetrical arcades.

During the urban reconstruction that followed the earthquake, it was planned to mark this space as a marketplace, and surround the space with four symmetric arcades utilizing ancient doric columns that had been found at the site of the church of Sant’Agostino.

The columns stand on a short black stone plinth and are surmounted by balconies with marble balustrades.

The arcades are interrupted by two intersecting cross streets: via Giuseppe Garibaldi and via della Lettera.

The marketplaces in Catania are present elsewhere, and the ground floor arcades mainly house stores and business establishments.