What to see in Catania

Welcome to Catania

Catania is an ancient port city on Sicily’s east coast. It sits at the foot of Mt. Etna, an active volcano with trails leading up to the summit.

The city’s wide central square, Piazza del Duomo, features the whimsical Fontana dell’Elefante statue and richly decorated Catania Cathedral. In the southwest corner of the square,

La Pescheria weekday fish market is a rowdy spectacle surrounded by seafood restaurants.

Catania is known as the “Black City” due to the dark volcanic rock –basalt– from Mount Etna that dominates its architecture, often combined with white limestone for contrast.

This characteristic black and white contrast is a defining feature of its UNESCO-recognized Sicilian Baroque architecture, rebuilt after devastating volcanic eruptions and earthquakes.

Catania Highlights

Abbey of Sant'Agata

The Badia di Sant’Agata is an 18th-century Baroque church and convent in Catania, designed by Giovan Battista Vaccarini after a 1693 earthquake.

Located near the Catania Cathedral, it features a striking facade with contrasting curved and straight lines, a Greek-cross interior, and a prominent octagonal dome with terraces offering panoramic views of the city and Mount Etna.

Piazza Duomo and the Elephant Fountain

The Elephant Fountain is located in the center of Piazza Duomo The elephant made of lava and carries on its back an Egyptian obelisk.

The elephant is also the symbol of the patron saint of Catania, Agia Agathi.

Around the piazza there are a lot of caffes and nice buildings and another one elephanit.

Fish Market --Pescheria--

The Catania Fish Market, or Pescheria, is a historic and vibrant market in Sicily known for its lively atmosphere, variety of fresh seafood, and local produce.

Located near Piazza Duomo, it is one of Europe’s largest fish markets, featuring loud vendors, seasonal goods, and a bustling scene that is a popular tourist attraction and gathering place for locals.

Best visited in the early morning for the freshest selection, visitors should wear appropriate footwear due to the wet and fish-covered floor.

Biscari Palace - Palazzo Biscari

Palazzo Biscari in Catania is a historic Baroque palace located on the city’s ancient walls, built after the 1693 earthquake.

Famous for its impressive wave-shaped, stucco-decorated spiral staircase, it features rooms adorned with white Syracuse stone and has hosted historical figures like J. W. Goethe.

Massimo Theatre Vincenzo Bellini

The Teatro Massimo Vincenzo Bellini in Catania is a renowned opera house, named after the Catania-born composer, that hosts annual opera and symphonic seasons in a 1,200-seat hall known for its acoustics.

Built in the high Neoclassical style with inspiration from classical Sicilian architecture.

Ancient Theatre and Odeon

Catania’s Roman Theatre and Odeon, located on the Montevergine hill acropolis, are ancient structures built over Greek-era foundations, dating primarily to the 1st-2nd century AD.

The larger Roman Theatre had a capacity of around 7,000, while the smaller Odeon, built later, hosted musical and poetic events for an estimated 1,500 spectators.

Convent of the Cruciferous

The “Convent of the Cruciferous” is likely a reference to the Monastery of San Benedetto or the Monastery of San Nicolò l’Arena in Catania, both located on Via dei Crociferi.

The Monastery of San Benedetto is a cloistered female monastic community, featuring a grand Baroque church with famous frescoes by Giovanni Tuccari.

What to do in Catania

Catania City Break