🇮🇹 Sicily’s Hidden Gem: Monastero dei Benedettini di San Nicolò 🏛️✨

On the last day of my month-long Italy trip, I booked the 1 PM guided tour of San Nicolò Monastery in Catania (only €10, including an alumni-led tour!). With stellar Google reviews, I had high expectations—but the experience blew me away! A Living University Campus 🎓 Once a Benedictine monastery, it’s now donated to the University of Catania as part of its humanities faculty. Inside, you’ll find: Classrooms, study halls, a gym, and a library 📚💪 An underground library & gym (with AC!)—where 2nd-century BC Greek ruins were excavated (yes, students literally study on an archaeological site!) 710 Time-Travel Architecture ⏳ The 300m-long cloister (Europe’s largest monastery at 45,000㎡) is now lined with student classrooms 🚶♂️ Volcanic stone stairs (from Etna’s lava!) lead to Renaissance-style halls with saintly frescoes 48 The 17th-century garden pavilion (originally for monks’ coffee & chocolate breaks ☕🍫) was rebuilt after the 1669 eruption 7 Lavish Monastic Life 💰 The dining hall once served 16 monks… with 100 servants (!). Talk about medieval luxury 🍷 10 Architectural genius: Volcanic rock + animal bone were used for load-bearing arches—mind-blowing! Why Visit? 🌟 UNESCO-worthy yet still functional (students study here daily!) Guided tours (Italian/English) reveal hidden chambers & history Only €10—cheaper than most Catania attractions! Pro Tip: Book the 1 PM slot—the light in the cloisters is magical 🌞. #SicilyTravel #CataniaGuide #HiddenGems #HistoryAlive 🏰🔥