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    Catania

    Italy

    Catania

    CityCulture

    Catania is Sicily's second-largest city, located on the east coast at the foot of Mount Etna. Following the major eruption of 1669 and the earthquake of 1693, the old town was rebuilt in Baroque style, often using dark lava rock.

    by Felix Gillen

    1. Home
    3. Destinations
    5. Italy
    7. Sicily
    9. Catania
    Catania is Sicily's second-largest city, located on the east coast at the foot of Mount Etna. Following the major eruption of 1669 and the earthquake of 1693, the old town was rebuilt in Baroque style, often using dark lava rock. Since 2002, it has been part of the UNESCO World Heritage site of the Baroque Towns of Val di Noto. Its focal point is the Piazza del Duomo, featuring the Elephant Fountain and the Cathedral; just next to it is the fish market. In the evenings, many gather in the old town around Via Crociferi. The city's airport serves as a starting point for many travelers exploring Eastern Sicily and Mount Etna.

    Sights in Catania

    Discover the most important sights and attractions

    Kathedrale Sant’Agata
    Church

    1Kathedrale Sant’Agata

    Cathedral of the patron saint Agatha on Piazza del Duomo. The three 11th-century Norman apses remain; Giovanni Battista Vaccarini created the Baroque facade between 1734 and 1761. Inside is the tomb of composer Vincenzo Bellini, born in Catania.
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    Teatro Massimo Bellini
    Attraction

    2Teatro Massimo Bellini

    Opera House, opened in 1890 with Bellini's opera “Norma” and named after the composer. The horseshoe-shaped auditorium, with four box tiers and a gallery, offers around 1,200 seats and is richly decorated.
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    Orto Botanico di Catania
    Attraction

    3Orto Botanico di Catania

    University Botanical Garden, opened 1858, known for its palm and succulent collections. At its heart is a Neoclassical building with Ionic columns.
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    Palazzo Biscari
    Museum

    4Palazzo Biscari

    The city's most significant private palace, built for the Princes of Biscari on Charles V's city wall from 1693 to 1763, following the earthquake. Sculptor Antonino Amato adorned the seven large seafront windows with opulent Baroque decor.
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    Elephant Fountain
    Historic Landmark

    5Elephant Fountain

    The city's landmark in the middle of Piazza del Duomo: an elephant of unknown age, made of lava rock, which the locals call u Liotru, carries an Egyptianizing granite obelisk. Vaccarini assembled the fountain between 1735 and 1737.
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    La Pescheria
    Market

    6La Pescheria

    The fish market is just behind Cathedral Square. Vendors display fish and seafood; surrounding alleys feature vegetable stalls and simple eateries.
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    City walks in Catania

    Curated walking tours through the city's highlights, handpicked by experienced travel journalists.

    Catania Compact: Baroque, Fish Market and Volcano Views

    On this walk of about two hours, discover the vibrant heart of Catania. From magnificent Baroque architecture and the lively fish market to ancient ruins, immerse yourself in the rich history and unique atmosphere of this Sicilian city. A must for every visitor!

    ~2 Std. 15 Min.
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    Stops (7)

    Dining & Drinks

    1

    Palazzo Scammacca

    Restaurant on Piazza Scammacca in the historic center, a few steps from Via Etnea.
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    2

    Carlito's

    Mexican restaurant with a cocktail bar west of Cathedral Square.
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    3

    Trattoria Il Mare

    Trattoria with fish in Via San Michele, a side street of Via Etnea in the center.
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    4

    Sicilia in Bocca

    Restaurant on Piazza Pietro Lupo, east of Via Etnea near Teatro Massimo.
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    5

    Un Castagno

    Macrobiotic restaurant with a shop on Via Francesco Fusco, north of the center.
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    6

    Sleto

    Pizzeria with burgers on Piazza Turi Ferro in the center, near Via Etnea.
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    Food and Drink

    Catania boasts a vibrant street food scene. You'll find restaurants and snack bars around the fish market, in the alleys behind the Cathedral, and on Via Etnea.

    Pasta alla Norma

    The city's signature dish: Pasta with tomatoes, fried eggplant, basil, and salted ricotta.

    Arancini

    Deep-fried, stuffed rice balls, one of the city's typical snacks.

    Sarde a beccafico

    Stuffed sardines, another typical dish of Catanian cuisine.

    Pistachios from Bronte

    The pistachios from Bronte on the western slope of Etna have a Protected Designation of Origin (DOP).

    Minne di Sant'Agata

    Round sponge cakes with ricotta, chocolate and candied fruits, baked for the Agatha Festival in February.

    History and Culture

    Between Volcano and SeaCatania was founded as the Greek colony Katane in the 8th century BC. From Roman times date the theatre and the adjacent Odeon. The proximity to Mount Etna has repeatedly shaped the city: in 1669, a lava flow reached the city, pushing the coast south of Castello Ursino out into the sea, and in 1693, an earthquake destroyed the city.Baroque ReconstructionAfter 1693, Catania was rebuilt with wide, straight streets like Via Etnea. The architect Giovanni Battista Vaccarini created the cathedral's facade and the Elephant Fountain. The Benedictine Monastery and Via Crociferi are among the most impressive testimonies of this period.Bellini and Sant'AgataThe opera composer Vincenzo Bellini hailed from Catania; the opera house, the city park Villa Bellini, and the airport are named after him. From February 3rd to 6th, the city celebrates its patron saint Agatha with processions, during which the silver Fercolo with the reliquary bust is drawn through the streets.

    Nightlife

    Evenings in Catania often start with an aperitivo in the alleys around Piazza Teatro Massimo, where most bars are concentrated. Here you'll find a blend of traditional wine bars and modern cocktail bars like Biscò or Sixty, which stay open late into the night.
    1

    Sixty

    Bar on Via Pacini, north of Piazza Stesicoro.
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    2

    Biscò

    Bar on Via Etnea, the main street of the city center.
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    3

    Sally's

    Bar on Via Gemmellaro, not far from Piazza Stesicoro.
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    4

    Ménage

    Bar in Via Euplio Reina, an alley between Via Etnea and Teatro Massimo.
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    5

    Nelson Sicily

    Bar in the Via Crociferi.
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    6

    Carmè

    Bar in the Palazzo Beneventano on Piazza Stesicoro, opposite the remains of the Roman amphitheater.
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    7

    Mosaik Beer House

    Beer bar and tea room with a wide selection of craft beers, northeast of Piazza Stesicoro.
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    8

    Caffè Opera

    Bar on Piazza Bellini in front of the Opera House, with outdoor seating.
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    Exploring locally

    In the CityExplore the old town on foot. For longer distances, there are city buses and a metro line connecting the city centre at Piazza Stesicoro with the western districts.Airport and TrainThe Alibus connects Catania-Fontanarossa Airport with Catania Centrale train station. From the station, trains run along the coast to Taormina and Messina, as well as to Syracuse.To Mount EtnaAn AST regular bus departs from Catania in the morning to Rifugio Sapienza on the south side of the volcano and returns in the afternoon. The Circumetnea narrow-gauge railway runs along the slopes of the mountain; the section from Catania is currently replaced by buses. Car rentals or guided tours are more convenient.

    Accommodations in Catania

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    Campgrounds in Catania

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      • 1Kathedrale Sant’Agata3 days
      • 2Teatro Massimo Bellini4 days
      • 3Orto Botanico di Catania5 days
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    Nearby

    Etna

    Etna

    Mount Etna, on the eastern coast of Sicily, is Europe's highest active volcano, standing over 3,300 meters tall; its exact height changes by several dozen meters with each eruption. Since 2013, it has been a UNESCO World Heritage site. On the south side, a road leads up to nearly 2,000 meters and a cable car to around 2,500 meters. You hike over cooled lava flows, past secondary craters, and gaze out from the upper slopes over the Ionian Coast. On the lower slopes, wine, pistachios, and fruit grow in fertile volcanic soil.
    Taormina

    Taormina

    Taormina is located on the east coast of Sicily, about 200 meters above the Ionian Sea, between Messina and Catania. From here, views stretch along the coast to Mount Etna. Its main attraction is the ancient theatre, originally built by the Greeks and later modified by the Romans. The Corso Umberto runs through the old town, passing palaces, churches, and Piazza IX Aprile. Below the town are Mazzarò and the bay of Isola Bella. Since the 19th century, Taormina has been an international resort; it is accordingly crowded in summer.
    Syracuse

    Syracuse

    Syracuse on the southeast coast of Sicily was in antiquity one of the most powerful cities in the Greek world. The old town is located on the small island of Ortigia: alleys, Baroque palaces and the Cathedral, which was built into a Greek temple of Athena. On the mainland are the Neapolis archaeological park with its large Greek Theatre and the Paolo Orsi Archaeological Museum. Together with the Rock Necropolis of Pantalica, Syracuse has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2005. Ortigia is well-suited for accommodation.
    Noto

    Noto

    Noto, in southeastern Sicily, 30 km from Syracuse, is considered a prime example of Sicilian Baroque. After the 1693 earthquake, the city was rebuilt 8 km from its old site, with squares, staircases, and light stone palaces. Since 2002, it and other Val di Noto Baroque towns are UNESCO World Heritage sites. Along Corso Vittorio Emanuele are the Cathedral, palaces, and churches. Nearby are the Vendicari Nature Reserve and the ruins of Noto Antica.
    Ragusa Ibla

    Ragusa Ibla

    Ragusa Ibla is one of the two parts of Ragusa's old town in southeastern Sicily. It lies on a hill east of the city and was rebuilt on its ancient site after the 1693 earthquake, while a new upper town arose on the higher ground above. Narrow streets, staircases, and alleys still follow its medieval layout. Together with the upper town, Ibla is one of the late Baroque towns of the Val di Noto, which have been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2002.

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