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Explore Catania, Sicily: 20 Must-Visit Places

By Anna Purpurpurpur

Catania, a magnificent baroque city nicknamed ‘black city’ because of the lava stone used for many buildings, is one of the gems of Sicily.

Famous for its Greek (Greeks founded their colony here in 729 BC) and Roman heritage, Verga and Bellini, it is a place where you spend days exploring it!

Mount Etna sitting by Catania gave it the worst days too with eruptions and earthquakes destroying Catania on several occasions (most influentially in 1693) but always pushed it to rebuild and to be reborn from ashes like phoenix.

Yes, now it might be littered, it might be underfunded with some buildings needing urgent restoration, and the street art might be a bit overwhelming, but you’ll still love it.

And I was delighted to come back there for the second time! 

First of all, what to eat in Catania?

Of course, food is a very special theme to Sicily. Arancini that remind you of Etna by its shape, cassata, cannoli, granita are the must but there are more local specialities too.

Pasta alla Norma named after famous Bellinni’s opera is so typical! Tomato sauce plus aubergines and anelletti al forno – a must to try in Catania.

Besides that, as Catania is a port, seafood is its other speciality: fresh seafood markets and restaurants would give you quite a choice of products to try. You might be surprised but horse meat seems to be another local product used for the traditional dishes a lot!

Finally, try olivetti di Sant’Agata, actually these are an olive-shaped and colored dessert on the base of marzipan, or jams or other sweet delicacies made out Opuntia, or prickly pear!

1. Piazza del Duomo

We start with Piazza del Duomo, the cathedral square, the main square of Catania. Palazzo degli Elefanti, or the Town hall, is currently under reconstruction. 

Meet the symbol of the city: the Elephant Fountain by Vaccarini dating to 1736. This statue bearing an Egyptian obelisk is made out of lava stone and is much much older: no one knows for sure but an elephant has been a symbol of Catania for many centuries and sometimes is regarded as a guardian against the Etna eruptions. Locals call it ‘u Liotru’. And look, it’s smiling!

2. Saint Agatha’s Cathedral

Sicily is well known to be a very religious part of Italy, and you simply can’t miss the main religious site of Catania: Saint Agatha’s Cathedral. It’s dedicated to the city’s patron saint who lived in the 3rd century and refused to marry a Roman powerful man.

Originally the Roman Achillean Baths were located on this site (you can still see some remnants of them – see below), the first cathedral was constructed in the 11th century, and the current one dates to the 17th century when it was rebuilt in baroque style after a massive earthquake. 

3. Diocesan Museum of Catania

Museo Diocesano located literally next door at the historical Palazzo dei Chierici is another must visit site.

First of all, it has a roof terrace with such a fantastic view over Etna mountain from one side and port from the other. 

Secondly, it has a great collection of religious art, paintings, jewelry, reliquaries mainly from the cathedral of St. Agatha, and now it holds an exhibition ‘From the monasteries and convents’.

Don’t miss the silver ferculum on the first floor: it’s a silver canopy used during Feast of Saint Agatha in February, carried around in a street procession.

4. Fontana Dell’Amenano

The Amenano Fountain made out of white Carrara marble was created in 1867 by Tito Angelini. It was named after the river Amenano flowing underneath and filling up the fountain with water. It sits on your way from the Piazza del Duomo to the fish market. Who’s this boy, you’ll ask? That’s an incarnation of the river itself holding cornucopia, a symbol of fertility, in his hands.

5. Palazzo Biscari

Palazzo Biscari is a magnificent 17th century palace built by the Paternò Castello family, the princes of Biscari, located by the walls erected during the rule of the Emperor Charles V to make it stronger during earthquakes.

It is still privately owned by the Biscari family but it’s open to visitors on some occasions.

The interiors here are fantastic: see the frescoes, the paintings, precious porcelain and detailed baroque interior.

It was visited by many well known figures such as Goethe and many others from all over Europe, and Coldplay shot their video Violet Hill in 2008 here!

6. Cave Dell’Ostelo

Next, we’re visiting a much less known spot: its hidden under the ground! Under the piazza Currò, there is a fantastic natural miracle: a lava cave formed after the eruption in the 17th century and the Amenano river flows there freely!

And after paying a small fee to the Agota hostel / A Putia dell’ostelo restaurant, you can enter it. Some Roman terme are located nearby. 

7. Fish Market La Pescheria

La Pescheria, or the fish market, is definitely worth a visit even if you don’t plan to buy anything!

Dozens of various fish species, fresh oysters, mussels, clams, crabs, prawns and many other freshly caught animals are sold here in the mornings. Actually the historical market was located at Piazza Mazzini, but it was relocated here in the 17th century after the earthquake.

There are lots of restaurants and stall selling veggies and fruits in the area, so you probably could eat something nice here too! 

8. Castello Ursino

Castello Ursino, or the castle of the bear, or Castello Svevo di Catania, is a large 13th century castle in the centre of the city.

It was built by Frederick II of Swabia between 1239 and 1250, and now it’s beautifully restored, in excellent condition and looks great!

Since 1934 its home to the Civic Museum: come here to see the architectural finds and to explore the ancient history of this area and the painting (overall, there are over 8000 exhibits in the museum collection). 

9. Chiesa della Badia di Sant’Agata

Are you ready to see the most dramatic view over Catania? Come to Chiesa della Badia di Sant’Agata, constructed in 1735-1767 again by Giovan Battista Vaccarini, after the earthquake destroyed the previous church on this site.

Its interior is beautiful but just wait till you get to the terrace and eventually to the dome itself too.

It’s even been nicknamed ‘Un Balcone sul Barocco di Catania’ – and that’s true for sure! You can see the marina from here too as well as the main square and the Christmas market if you travel in winter.

To be honest, I wasn’t sure whether I’d like to go to the cupola itself but thanks to George for always being curious and pushing me to do things. It was really worth it! 

And guess what’s that? Actually this is Mount Etna completely obscured by clouds! So lucky we saw it another day in full glory. 

10. Teatro Massimo Bellini

Teatro Massimo Bellini is a small but worldwide famous theatre built in neoclassical style by Andrea Scala and Carlo Sada.

The architects were inspired by the French second empire eclecticism. It opened in 1890 with Norma by Vincenzo Bellini, one of the most famous opera composers of all times who was born in Catania. The theatre might look a bit shabby from the outside but it has amazing interiors and is still in operation: you can still attend an opera performance here.

11. Villa Bellini 

Villa Bellini is one of the oldest and the most beautiful green areas of Catania. In the past, princes of Biscari owned this site and had a maze there, but in the late 19th century it was bought by the city. The park was inaugurated in 1883.

Come to stroll around, have a nice view over the city, observe the swan pond and pretty architectural elements!

12. Porta Uzeda

Porta Uzeda is the gate in the 15th century walls of Charles V that allowed direct access from the Via Etnea and the main square to the port. It is named after Juan Francisco Pacheco Téllez-Girón, the Duke of Uzeda and viceroy of Sicily, who was entitled to rebuild the city. Now Porta Uzeda is one of the important baroque and historical monuments in the city centre.

As I’ve already mentioned, you can peek inside of it if you visit the Diocesan Museum!

13. Roman Theatre of Catania and Odeon

It’s unthinkable to talk about Catania and not to explore its Roman past! First of all Parco Archeologico Greco Romano with the remains dating to the 2nd century AD. There you’ll find the Roman theatre with capacity for 7000 people built over the Greek theatre dating to around 4th-5th century BC.

You can walk there up and down, explore the galleries, take a seat and imagine as if you’re transported back in time! The marble from this site has been used for the construction of the cathedral and other more modern monuments – that’s why it looks like this today. And the site has been excavated and researched pretty recently- that’s why you see houses built literally on it!

Just behind it there’s a smaller structure, an Odeon, shaped as an amphitheater as well and used to host dance performances and concerts. Unfortunately, it was closed during our visit but it’s said to be still in use for some open air performances!

14. Termes around the city 

In a short walk from the archaeological park, you can also visit the Le Terme della Rotonda, the roman baths, with a Byzantine church built on its ruins, one of the rare Byzantine remains left in Catania (another one is Cappella Bonajuto). Some even hypothesised that the pantheon in Rome was built after this Terme.

Some other bathhouses you might want to see is Roman Thermae of Santa Maria dell’Indirizzo on piazza Currò close to the Castello Ursino, and Achilean baths under the cathedral.

15. Benedictine Monastery of San Nicolò l’Arena 

Benedictine Monastery of San Nicolò l’Arena is a spot frequently missed by visitors – but make sure you don’t! What’s now a home to the Department of Humanities (DISUM) of the University of Catania, is actually one of the biggest Benedictine monasteries in Europe.

It was founded in 1558 and was rebuilt after the 17th century earthquake. It has amazing cloisters, a few inner courtyards including Chiostro di Ponente with a marble fountain and Chiostro di Levante, library, a garden Giordino di Novizi, and you can visit it even if you are not a student.

The monastery is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

16. Church of San Nicolò l’Arena

While the monastery doesn’t carry a religious function, a church nearby still does.  San Nicolò l’Arena church is one of the largest religious buildings of Sicily, and its construction started in the 17th century to replace the destructed Renaissance building.

It has an absolutely monumental interior with huge carved ‘candelores’ carried around the city during religious festivals: gold, cherubs, flags, fruits are all presented here. Sadly, its facade is still unfinished.

17. Porta Garibaldi

The Porta Garibaldi, or the former Porta Ferdinandea, is one of the architectural symbols of the city because of its recognizable white-black striped outlook and the decorations. The arch has been made out of the Syracuse white stone and the local black lava stone and it stays on the site of an old fort destroyed by the eruptions and earthquakes again.

This arch was erected on the occasion of marriage between Ferdinand I of the Two Sicilies, the bourbon king, and the Austrian princess Maria Carolina d’Asburgo-Lorena in 1768. After 1862 it was renamed after Giuseppe Garibaldi, the famous military general and unifier of Italy, and the Via Giuseppe Garibaldi ends with it.

18. Amphitheatre of Catania 

The Roman Amphitheater of Catania is a huge amphitheater only a small part of which is visible from the street for the passers by. It also dates to around the 2nd century AD. Only its elliptic arena with measurements 40 on 60 meters! The entrance to it is visible from the Piazza Stesicoro. During the Medieval period, part of it was incorporated into the city walls. 

This is how it would look if it had been fully excavated and restored. As a visitor, you can walk through the (now underground) passages that have been uncovered – and this is such a post apocalyptic unusual experience!

19. Via Etnea

Via Etnea is the main artery of Catania. It runs from the Duomo square towards the mountain crossing a few squares including Piazza Stesicoro and Piazza della Università, and on a clear day you’ll have a fantastic view over it!

There are lots of pedestrianised zones there, a Christmas market in winter – absolutely fantastic one! – many shops and restaurants. 

20. Cafe Prestipino

Catania is full of small cafes but during our visit one of them – pretty posh and with magnificent dessert – really stood out. I’m talking about Cafe and Bar Prestipino located on the Via Etnea not far from the Cathedral, opened in 1976 and named after the family who started the business.

The Christmas decorations were set up very nicely, and their tarts with fresh strawberries were very good. We loved their cassata so much that we even bought one to take home by plane with us! 

Where to stay in Catania

We stayed in Palazzo Sangiorgio, a luxury five star hotel that opened only recently.

Our room with a grand jacuzzi in its living room was both traditional and modern, overlooking the inner courtyard of the hotel.

Breakfasts were really good – considering Italian love to be the minimalist first meal of the day. The hotel was located very conveniently, a 5 min walk from the Cathedral square, and had great stylistic touches paying homage to Sicilian traditions.

There also was a restaurant in the hotel with a good Italian menu.

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Hope you liked my new blog,
Yours,
Anna xxx

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