Best Things To Do in Catania

If you plan to travel to Catania you can check out this list of the best things to do in this city. It is a place full of beautiful architecture, a lot of history and even an active volcano: the imposing Mount Etna. If you walk around carefully you can see different parts of the city that at first glance seem hidden, such as the Amenano River.

Other activities that stand out is the visit to the interior of different buildings such as the Cathedral of Catania or the Massimo Bellini Theater. Although for some sites you must buy a ticket, most of them are totally free. Make the most of your days in Catania to explore every corner of this city.

Among the things you can do in a day in Catania you should include a visit to Piazza Duomo, an iconic site of the city located in its historic center. This square was even declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. It is a jewel of Sicilian baroque where you can find several important architectural treasures.

To get to this square you can use the train and get off at Catania Centrale station. When you arrive you will be able to appreciate its careful construction. It is easy to navigate if you are traveling in a wheelchair or with children using strollers. You are likely to come across a cultural event such as an open-air concert or similar, as they are common at this site.

There are many architectural works in the square that you can take a closer look at. However, as soon as you arrive, the first one that will surely steal your attention is the Vaccarini Elephant Fountain. This fountain, located in the center of the square, was built in 1736 and was crowned by the elephant with an obelisk, an emblem for the city.

It is said that the 8th century magician Heliodorus was the owner of the elephant. Also, the myth holds that the obelisk has the power to keep Mount Etna under control. In addition to this fountain you will also see the Palace of the Elephants, the Fountain of Amenano and the Cathedral of St. Agatha that you can visit inside.

Interesting details

• Price: free admission, it is a public site.
• Location: Piazza del Duomo, 95124 Catania CT, Italy.
• Hours: no opening hours.

The Cathedral of Catania, also known as the Cathedral of St. Agatha, is another iconic site in Piazza del Duomo. After the earthquake of 1693, it was rebuilt and different elements have been added over time. It now offers free access to the public so you can explore it fully.

This church is another Italian Baroque treasure in Catania that you should include in any tour of Catania. It is a church consecrated to St. Agatha, a young virgin who sacrificed her life for her faith. When you arrive, notice the main door. Right there is a statue of the patron saint. Further up you will see the dome of the church, which represents one of the most baroque elements of this building.

When you enter, you will see different paintings by Guillermo Borremans. You will also see the resting place of the remains of Saint Agatha and even those of Vincenzo Bellini, the renowned musician from Catania. If you continue your tour, you will also find the remains of some members of the Aragonese royal family.

Towards the right arm of the cathedral, the chapel of the Madonna and the chapel of Mazzolo are located. On the altar you can see a virgin dating from the sixteenth century. To its right is the tomb of Constance of Aragon, wife of Frederick III. There are many other details that I have not described, but you can go in with a local guide to learn a little more about every corner of the church.

Details of interest

• Price: free admission, it is a public site.
• Location: Piazza del Duomo, 95124 Catania CT, Italy.
• Hours: usually open every day of the week from 7 am to 00:30 am. It then reopens from 4 pm to 7 pm.

Piazza del Duomo has many sites you should not miss, such as the Amenano Fountain, located at one end of the square in front of the Elephant Palace. Its origin is very particular, as it is the only point where you can see the river Amenano. This is because after the eruption of the Etna volcano in 1669, this river was buried.

The Neapolitan sculptor Tito Angelini was commissioned to build it in 1867. The sculpture of the naked young man, carrying a cornucopia from which water comes out and then falls at his feet forming a waterfall, is the representation of the river Amenano. The shape of the water gives the impression of a sheet, which is why the locals often call the fountain "acqua a linzolu", which means, in Sicilian, water in sheet.

Said water returns to the river and continues its subway path. The other point where the river can be seen is a subway room. This is located in the A putia dell'Ostello, a very lively restaurant located in a lava cave. I recommend you go in, have a drink and head for the natural steps inside, as the river runs right next to it.

If you like museums I recommend you to visit the Civic Museum of Ursino Castle dating from the thirteenth century. Inside you will appreciate interesting paintings, baroque murals and an impressive archaeological collection. In addition, you will learn about the history of the castle, did you know that it has been a prison, a fort and even the residence of royalty?

To be exact, this castle was built in 1239, when Catania was still the capital of Sicily. It has an imposing and very large presence that allows you to observe it from Piazza Federico II di Svevia if you look up. You can enter for free and visit all its corners. I recommend visiting the Library of Ancient Books where you will see the first editions of Christian literature that come from different European countries.

Inside this great museum you will also see large religious murals that were meticulously painted. I also recommend entering the Pinacoteca gallery where you will see works of art dating back to the 14th century. Among them is the painting of The Virgin Seated on a Throne by Antonello di Saliba.

If you are traveling to Catania with children, seeing museums can be a great way to pass the time. In addition to this museum, you can visit others such as the Museum of the Landing in Catania or the Museum of Zoology of Catania.

Interesting details

• Price: admission is free.
• Location: Piazza Federico di Svevia, 21, 95121 Catania CT, Italy.
• Hours: usually open daily from 10 am to 5 pm.

The Teatro Massimo Bellini is an opera house named after the composer Vincenzo Bellini, born in this city. Its inauguration took place on May 31, 1890 with Bellini's master opera Norma. The idea for its construction came after the earthquake that devastated the city in 1693. However, it took a long time before it was built.

You can visit this theater through guided tours. It is important that you check the schedules to choose the one that suits you best. Normally the visits are only one hour between nine and 12 noon for only 6 €. During these visits it is possible to visit the Box, the Royal Box, the Platea and the Foyer.

The entire tour is accompanied by an official guide of the theater. This person has extensive knowledge about this and other tourist sites in Catania. I assure you that you will learn a lot about its history and you will know in depth the importance of this architectural jewel of Catania that you can not miss.

It should be noted that tickets for visits can be obtained at the theater box office. You can also take pictures inside and outside the theater. If you are staying two days or more in Catania, you can plan your time to even attend a play or an opera for a dream experience.

Details of interest

• Price: about 6 €.
• Location: Via Giuseppe Perrotta, 12, 95131 Catania CT, Italy.
• Hours: the Teatro Massimo Bellini is open for guided tours from Tuesday to Saturday from 9 am to 12 noon.

Visiting Catania is an excellent choice when traveling to Sicily, not only for everything you can do there, but also for the cities that are around it. Its location makes it very attractive for many tourists. From there you can take tours to Mount Etna, the city of Agrigento or the city of Noto.

You can choose different excursions from Catania to see the impressive buildings that hide part of the Greek and Roman history. Most of the trips to any of the cities mentioned above take an hour or less. For this reason, you should keep in mind that to make an excursion of this style you should spend more than one day in Catania.

On the other hand, these trips can include food and beverage tastings. For example, in Castelmola you can eat the delicious Sicilian cannoli. Other cities, such as Taormina, stand out more for their architectural works, so go prepared with your camera.

Via Etnea is the most iconic avenue in all of Catania. Over time it has been modified and enlarged with blocks of lava stone to become a large boulevard. I recommend you to stroll freely on this avenue to visit stores, the Bellin Park and different restaurants. You can even start a gastronomic tour in Catania from this point of the city.

The beginning of this road is located in Piazza del Duomo and extends to the north, always in the direction of Etna. Due to several earthquakes and fires that the city has experienced, the road has been remodeled and rebuilt numerous times. You will notice that there are variations in the architectural style, although the baroque is the one that stands out the most.

Although at the beginning I only mentioned stores and restaurants, the truth is that the importance of this avenue lies more in the diplomatic headquarters and government offices it houses. Among them are the Palace of San Demetrio and the quattro canti, the Palazzo Cilestri in front of the church dei Minoriti, the Collegiata and the Ospedale San Marco located in Stesicoro square.

Before traveling to Catania, I recommend you to investigate if during your stay there will be a holiday, for example, if you travel to Catania at Christmas. If so, this street will come even more alive with Christmas lighting and stores bursting at the seams. Don't forget to eat an ice cream while you're there! There are plenty of native gelato shops and it would be a waste not to pop into one of them.

The Benedictine Monastery of San Nicolò l'Arena is one of the largest monasteries in Europe and was declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco. Like other architectural works, this site had to be rebuilt after earthquakes and has endured over time. You should definitely visit it, as it is one of the main attractions of Catania.

I advise you to book a guided tour which has an average cost of 10 €. This way you can explore the interior of this vast complex. Inside you will see the church of St. Nicholas, a small place where you can enter and pray. You will also see the Department of Humanities of the University of Catania and the Museo della Fabbrica. The latter is located in the basement of the monastery. There you can learn about the construction and architectural design of the site.

Other things you will find inside the Monastero dei Benedettini are the remains of a Roman domus, the hanging garden of the novices and a huge meridian clock. If you feel like a bite to eat, you can visit its small cafeteria before continuing your tour of the town.

Details of interest

• Price: about 10 €.
• Location: Piazza Dante Alighieri, 32, 95124 Catania CT, Italy.
• Hours: usually open from Monday to Friday from 11 am to 1 pm and from 3 pm to 5 pm. On weekends it is open from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm.

No doubt in your passage through Catania an excursion to Mount Etna is one of the things you should do. You can even take the time to walk around the city of Taormina and not only Etna, the famous active volcano on the east coast of Sicily. I recommend traveling with a local guide to direct you at all times.

There are several options you can choose to explore Etna. Some people prefer to hike, others prefer something more adventurous such as a 4x4 jeep. The decision is entirely up to you and the experience you want to live. You can also choose to go there to watch the sunset or during the day.

The walking route on Mount Etna generally passes through the Rifugio Sapienza and continues along the line of the ancient Silvestri craters. At the end of the route you will find a lava cave dating back to 1972. At the end of the tour you can visit the town of Taormina, known for its beautiful buildings and architectural works.

Please note that Etna can be a bit cold, so the clothes you take with you should be warm. At the same time it should be comfortable enough to walk long distances at ease. On the other hand, I recommend you to bring snacks and water bottles for the road.

Details of interest

• Price: the excursions can cost between 90 € and 150 €.
• Duration: more than 9 hours.
• Means of transport: may vary depending on the type of excursion. Transfer from Catania to the mountain is almost always included and is usually by car, van or shuttle bus.

The church of Badia di Sant'Agata is a beautiful site that you must visit, especially if you want to take beautiful panoramic photographs. Although the entrance is free, if you want to go up to the dome you must buy an entrance fee of about 2 €.

The restoration work that can be seen in this church is impressive. Inside the church there is a large terrace where theatrical or musical performances can be held. Further up is the dome that I mentioned before. That place is ideal to admire the city in all its splendor. From there you can see the Teatro Massimo Bellini, the Cathedral, the Ursino Castle, the Benedictine Monastery of San Nicolò l'Arena and the churches of Via Crociferi.

I recommend this experience to be included at the end of your tours of Catania. You can go up and admire the sunset or sunset. The scenery is really enchanting, as you can see the beautiful colors of the sky and the different birds flying freely.

Finally, to make your trip to Catania perfect and make the most of all the things to do in the city, I leave you our post about the transfers between the airport and the center.