Attractions in Catania, Sicily – 8 Things You Must Experience! august 11, 2024 – Posted in: Italy, Travel – Tags: Attractions, Catania, Holiday, Italy, Sicily, Travel, Vacation

Tourist Attractions in Catania

Catania is full of fascinating attractions. The city’s history stretches far back, and many different cultures have left their mark on it. Founded in the 8th century BC as a Greek colony in Magna Graecia, Catania was also part of the Arab emirate nearly 2,000 years later, under the name Madīnat al-fīl, the city of the elephant. The elephant is a symbol you’ll encounter frequently in the city, and as you can read in this article, there are differing opinions about its origin.

The Romans also visited Sicily, which was known as the grain basket of the Roman Empire. The great wealth accumulated here is reflected in the magnificent buildings you can still see remnants of.

Most tourists probably only visit Catania in connection with a trip up Mount Etna. Therefore, we have compiled all our travel tips for an Etna excursion in a separate article: Mount Etna – The Best Tips for Your Day Trip to The Vulcano. Still, there are many other fantastic attractions in Catania, which you can read about right here!

8 Exciting Attractions in Catania

Piazza del Duomo

Start your tour of Catania at Piazza del Duomo, the large square by the cathedral, Cattedrale di Sant’Agata. You can enjoy the view over Catania from the large tower, or simply admire the beautiful elephant in the fountain. Everywhere you go in Catania, you will see the black elephant, Catania’s landmark. The reason for the elephant remains shrouded in legends, between wild elephants at the foot of Etna, victories over Libya, and magical elephants. There is no complete agreement on this.

A’ Piscaria Mercato del Pesce

In the corner of the square, you will find the beautiful marble fountain, Fontana dell’Amenano. The fountain also marks the entrance to the fish market, A’ Piscaria Mercato del Pesce. The market is fun, exciting, and festive, but we don’t recommend visiting it in sandals. Dirty water and fish entrails can reach up to a centimeter in some places. Still, do visit and enjoy the traditional market with its shiny fish, black mussels, and fishmongers shouting eagerly.

Castello Ursino

Five minutes’ walk from the fish market is Castello Ursino. The castle, which looks so strangely unfinished and bare, was built by King Frederick II between 1239 and 1250. Great conflicts had divided the Sicilian people, but with this king, peace was achieved, and Sicily was unified. It was from here that he exercised his power, and inside the castle today, there is a city museum as well as changing art exhibitions.

The Greek-Roman Theatre

Just north of the castle is the impressive theatre, Teatro Antico greco-romano di Catania. The theatre you see today is Roman and was built in the first century AD on top of an existing Greek theatre. What makes the theatre so impressive is both its location among all the buildings and the seats carved out of black lava blocks. As you walk through the beautiful arches, you come to the smaller Odeon, a semicircular theatre still used for concerts.

During your walk around Catania, you will also likely come across the remains of the Roman Amphitheatre at Piazza Stesicoro. Located by a busy road and with only the basement remaining, it is not as impressive as the theatre, but still worth a brief stop.

Via Crociferi

From the Greek-Roman theatre, it is easy to reach the city’s most famous street with many baroque churches, Via Crociferi. Just before you turn left onto the long street, you will pass by Bellini’s birthplace. Via Crociferi is a must-see when you are in Catania, as nowhere else in the city will you find the same beauty. Several Italian films have also been shot in the small side streets. Besides the many beautiful buildings, the street is also home to great restaurants and bars.

Monastero dei Benedettini di San Nicolò l’Arena

From Via Crociferi, head west to the Benedictine monastery, Monastero dei Benedettini. The impressive building, which also houses the Humanities Faculty, can be visited every morning and afternoon. It is free to visit the UNESCO building, but be sure to book a tour that takes you around parts of the museum that are otherwise not open to the public. From the monastery, it is also possible to go up to the roof and enjoy the view over Catania.

Chiesa di San Nicolò l’Arena

In Sicily, people still talk about the two most dramatic events in the island’s otherwise quite turbulent history: the volcanic eruption in 1669 and the earthquake in 1693. Etna erupted in 1669, sending streams of lava down over Catania. The city’s inhabitants had to flee, and although the Benedictine monastery was saved, the church at that time did not survive.

In 1687, reconstruction of the church began, but just 13 years later, in 1693, one of the most extensive disasters in Sicilian history occurred. The earthquake flattened the city and killed more than 2/3 of Catania’s population. In 1702, the rebuilding of the church started again, but to this day, the facade still remains bare and unfinished. This has nothing to do with the earthquake; rather, the monastery simply had a falling out with the company that was to supply the final stones for the church.

Villa Bellini

After all the exciting sights, it’s nice to relax a bit in the shade. Catania takes pride in their native son Vincenzo Bellini, nicknamed “The Swan of Catania.” For example, try listening to “Casta Diva,” preferably with Maria Callas as the soprano. The large park, Villa Bellini, is built as a tribute to the composer. While other areas of Catania might be dirty and run-down, this park is beautiful and peaceful.

Find a Great Hotel in Catania

When booking a hotel in Catania, be aware that it is a city that does not mind noise. Make sure to book a hotel away from the major roads and the liveliest party streets. Fortunately, we found this travel tip online before booking, and we were quite happy about that knowledge.

We stayed at the Liberty Hotel in one of Catania’s nicer neighborhoods. This beautiful colonial-style hotel is located on a quiet street, yet only a five-minute walk from the main pedestrian street and the lovely Bellini Park. It is also the same distance to the large Benedictine monastery and the unfinished church, San Nicolò.

The small boutique hotel has only 18 rooms, and there was no crowd at the breakfast buffet. The rooms are beautifully decorated and very classically Italian. It is definitely a hotel we will stay at again next time we are in Catania!

Read more about the hotel here: Liberty Hotel

See all the other lovely hotels in Catania by clicking here or do your own search for beautiful hotels in Sicily:

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