A SPACE DEDICATED
TO TASTE
Coria is situated on Palazzo San Demetrio, overlooking Via Etnea, the beating heart of Catania. A fine example of Late Sicilian Baroque architecture, the building is a symbol of the city’s rebirth, having been rebuilt, stone by stone, no less than twice: once after the earthquake of 1693 and a second time following the bombardments of 1943.
The design of the restaurant fully embraces this symbolism, bringing to life a space in which contemporary style is intertwined with the history of its surroundings. These two realities are expressed through the clever use of materials. The lava stone floor guides the visitor through a gallery of brass-covered arches connecting the different rooms of the restaurant, an echo of the arches of the façades of Palazzo San Demetrio outside. The walls are covered in more modern materials: the walls of the gallery have been modelled in plaster to suggest the grooved Doric columns of Catania’s classic architecture; the dining rooms feature wooden panelling and soft, woven fabrics; while the room dedicated to the Chef’s Table has wallpaper reminiscent of the dining room of a Sicilian palazzo.
The choice of furnishings is dictated by the same stylistic criteria: lights, tables and seats with a decidedly modern feel sit alongside objects in a more classical style, such as Art Deco plaster vases and traditional ceramics from the region, a tribute to Coria’s roots, deeply anchored in the nearby city of Caltagirone. Completing the choice of artwork is a curated selection of paintings by famous local artists, in which the clever use of volcanic rock in conjunction with the colours of the earth and boiling lava tells of the city’s strong connection to its volcano, Etna.
The wine room on the first floor, accessed via an internal staircase, boasts floor-to-ceiling shelving displaying a prized selection from the wine cellar.
