Aci Castello: Museo Civico del Castello Normanno

Castello Normanno Via G. Marconi 95021 Aci Castello tel. 095/274222

Opening hours: 9.00 A.M. - 1.00 P.M.; 3.00 P.M. - 7.00 P.M.; open on Sundays, closed on the other public holidays. Entrance: Free Services: research assistance, guided tours, library. Transport from Catania: AMT and AST bus services.

The Museo Civico di Aci Castello offers an interesting example of monument-museum, because it rises up inside an historical building, the Norman Castle, made of black lava, built in 1076 and belonging to Ruggero di Lauria. Built to increase the value of a suggestive land, but nevertheless important for its scientific aspect, the museum has four sections: Mineralogy, Paleontology, Archeology and Mediterranean Aquarium. At present the first two sections are open, while the others are being set up. In the first section (Mineralogy) you can observe the under water emergences of Lachea Island and of the Castle, with particular attention to the basalts and to the "pillows" of lava, following you can see the exhibit of the minerals from mount Etna and of the pre-Etnean volcanoes and the show-case dedicated to the flintstone and to the obsidian. In the paleontological section it is possible to observe some of the oldest fossils, the ammonites which date back to 170-150 millions of years ago, but apart from the invertebrates here can be seen the fossilized bones and teeth of vertebrates which lived in the Quaternary such as the Hippopotamus pentlandi, the Cervus Elaphus and the dwarf elephant.

Provincial Tourism Board of Catania
http://www.apt-catania.com
E-mail : apt@apt-catania.com