The Best Tips for Your Holiday in Catania, Sicily august 11, 2024 – Posted in: Italy, Travel – Tags: Archaeology, Attractions, Catania, Food, Holiday, Italy, Restaurants, Reviews, Sicily, Travel, Vacation
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What to See, Do, and Eat in Catania?
Catania sits at the foot of Mount Etna and has experienced both earthquakes and multiple volcanic eruptions. The city has an intense and almost hysterical pulse, making it a rather fun place to visit. However, it might not be a city that everyone will equally appreciate.
Catania is, after all, a city of contrasts. It is both incredibly dirty and grimy and yet infinitely beautiful. With trash everywhere, car fumes, and potholes in the roads. And with Sicilians strolling up and down the streets in their finest clothes in search of a table for the obligatory Saturday cocktail. And seats in the Greek theater carved from black lava stones, markets with fresh fish and vegetables, and so on… Catania has it all!
Attractions in Catania
Most tourists might visit Catania in connection with a trip up Mount Etna. Therefore, we have gathered all our travel tips for an Etna excursion in a separate article: Mount Etna – The Best Tips for Your Day Trip to The Vulcano
However, there are many other exciting attractions in Catania where Romans, Greeks, and Moors have left their mark on the city. You can read about some of the top attractions in Catania here: Attractions in Catania, Sicily – 8 Things You Must Experience!
Great Restaurants in Catania
The food in Catania, like the rest of Sicily, is absolutely fantastic. Among the specialties you simply must try are Pasta alla Norma, horse meat, and Cassatella di sant’Agata. Pasta alla Norma is named after the opera “Norma” by the local composer Bellini. It is a simple, no-nonsense pasta dish with pasta, eggplant, tomato, and pecorino cheese.
Wherever you go in the city, you will encounter large, smoking grills. It smells delicious – but maybe only until you find out what it is. In Catania, horse meat is consumed in very large quantities. If you’re instead craving a snack in the middle of the day, order a Cassatella di sant’Agata. You’ll find all our best restaurant tips here: Best Restaurants in Catania, Sicily
Festive Streets and Bars in Catania
Be sure to save some space, because after dinner it’s time to venture into Catania’s nightlife. Especially on Saturday evenings, the streets become a bustling hive of Sicilians strolling up and down in their finest clothes, hunting for a table for the obligatory Saturday cocktail. Although there are many people, it is very civilized and safe, with no one being overly drunk. People have a cocktail or two and head home right after midnight. The party is still one of the most fun things we’ve experienced – it’s quite wild!
Shopping in Catania
In our view, Catania is probably the best shopping city in all of Sicily. Through the center runs the large pedestrian street, Via Etnea, which is almost three kilometers long and lined with shop after shop. You’ll find all the well-known brands, such as H&M, Levi’s, and Tezenis. If you’re looking for something unique, head to Via Umberto I and the small streets behind it.
Via Etnea ends at Piazza del Duomo. Crossing the square, you’ll reach the fish market. Turning right just before, you’ll come to Via Giuseppe Garibaldi, where you’ll find small souvenir shops and stores with unique handicrafts. If you’re not tired of shopping yet, you’ll find more exclusive stores on Corso Italia. Catania also has two large shopping centers: La Rinascente, which is similar to our Magasin, and the larger shopping city Porte di Catania, located near the airport.
You should also try to visit Catania’s largest outdoor market, Fera ‘o Luni. The large market stretches along the entire Piazza Carlo Alberto. Here, you’ll find everything your heart desires, from fresh fruit and chestnuts to canned fish, cheese, as well as clothes and shoes. The market is open daily from 6:00 AM to 12:00 PM, except on Saturdays when it’s open until 5:00 PM. The market is closed on Sundays.
Find a Good Hotel in Catania
Liberty 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: