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Catania is the second largest city in Sicily and always seems to be a little overshadowed by Palermo. But Catania is also unexpectedly charming and definitely worth a visit. In this article, I’ll show you Catania’s must-see sights and a few very interesting insider tips!
Sicily is on your bucket list anyway? Find more tips for the largest island in the Mediterranean here.
Almost more striking than the cathedral itself is the Fontana dell’Elefante on the Piazza del Duomo in front of it. The elephant fountain depicts the Liotru, symbol of the city of Catania.
Hey, I’m Tatiana and I’m the blogger behind The Happy Jetlagger. Since 2014, I’ve been sharing my personal travel stories on this blog. I don’t have a big team behind me, so I’m pretty much a one-person show: I’ve researched and tested all recommendations myself!
There are many myths surrounding the Liotru, the most beautiful of which I found to be the interpretation as a symbol of the strength of the inhabitants of Catania to withstand severe natural disasters such as earthquakes and volcanic eruptions throughout history.
The large Piazza dell’Universita is almost directly adjacent to the Piazza del Duomo. It also marks the start of the Via Etnea. Many walking tours through the center of Catania start from here.
Book your walking tour through Catania*
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When it comes to the traditional fish market in Catania, I’m still not sure whether I can recommend this place with a clear conscience: The many halved swordfish, bloody fish knives and a very rustic ambience can dampen your mood somewhat.
Despite everything, I found the hustle and bustle of the market super interesting and somehow fascinating. The fish market is located directly behind the Piazza Duomo, but the entrance is so well hidden in a corner behind a fountain, the Fontana dell’Amenano, that you think you are entering another world. A few steps below the actual street level is the actual fish market with its many stalls, so that you have a perfect view of the action from above.
The tall buildings all around with their dark marble stone façades add to the atmosphere of the market.
In the side streets around the fish market, you will find other market stalls with fruit and vegetables as well as lots of great little bars and restaurants.
Fancy more Sicily?
Here are some more tips on what you can see in Sicily:
All the highlights of Sicily at a glance
In addition to the Teatro Romano, there is another excavation in the middle of Catania. You can visit the Anfiteatro Romano in Piazza Stesicoro for a small fee.
In contrast to Via Maqueda, the central shopping street in Palermo, Via Etnea in Catania is rather unadorned. Only partly pedestrianized, the Via Etnea is not necessarily the best place for a stroll. However, the name is no coincidence: from the Via Etnea you can see the summit of Mount Etna in good weather!
There is hardly a better example of Baroque architecture in Sicily in such a small space: the Via Crociferi was built after the earthquake of 1693 and became one of the most important urban planning projects in Catania at the time. Baroque churches and monasteries line the streets here.
In the middle of the city you will also come across the Castello Ursino. The medieval fortress was built in the 13th century under the rule of Frederick II of Hohenstaufen to protect Catania from attacks.
The enormous size and massive construction of the fortress in its present location seems strange, as it does not fit in at all with the rest of the cityscape. However, when it was built, Castello Ursino was located directly on the water! However, due to a major eruption of Mount Etna in 1669, lava flowed around the fortress and caused the coastline to shift.
The street food hype in Catania really started with Scirocco: What once began as a small stall on the edge of the fish market is now THE place to go for fish and seafood on the go.
If you still need to get something down after the bloody fish market spectacle, there is no better place than Scirocco for a little snack in between. Or you can just come back in the evening.
The Mooddika was a bit of a surprise. I had actually expected a boring tourist trap here, in a side street near the central Piazza dell’Università, and only ended up there out of convenience.
But the pasta was surprisingly fresh and delicious – and the ambience of the bar, restaurant and salumeria was very pleasant. Absolute recommendation!
I was on a big road trip through Sicily, so I was particularly pleased when I found an absolutely central boutique hotel with an attached parking space.
The B&B Palazzo Bruca* is located in an old palazzo and is just a few meters from the Piazza del Duomo. So if you’re looking for central accommodation in Catania, you’ve come to the right place!
Check prices & availability at B&B Palazzo Bruca*
Due to its proximity to Mount Etna, Catania is a great base for excursions to the still active volcano. You take a cable car up to the mountain station, from where you continue up in a jeep – alternatively, you can start the hike right away.
I definitely recommend a guided tour. On Mount Etna, the weather can change quickly, the paths are not necessarily safe and, in addition to orientation difficulties in the vast lava fields at an altitude of up to almost 3000 meters, there can also be discomfort caused by altitude sickness. Having a local guide with you is worth its weight in gold.
Book a hike on Mount Etna (including guide, ticket for the cable car & equipment such as a helmet)*
If you don’t want to climb Mount Etna, you can also take the Ferrovia Circumetnea almost all the way around the volcano. The last narrow-gauge railroad in Sicily exudes an absolute retro vibe and travels to many small villages around Mount Etna.
The Ferrovia Circumetnea starts in Catania at Borgo station in the northern city center.
Here you can find the timetable & exact route of the Ferrovia Circumetnea
From Catania, you can also reach many other interesting places on the east coast of Sicily. The romantic mountain town of Taormina, for example, is only 50 kilometers from Catania.
Tip: Save yourself the trouble of searching for a parking space in a hire car through narrow streets in Taormina or complicated journeys by public transport and book a day trip from Catania!
Book a full-day tour from Catania to Taormina*
To help you find your way around Catania quickly, I have put together a map with all the tips from this article. You can also easily download them and use them on your cell phone when you’re out and about.
My trip to Sicily was sponsored by Travellers Insight, the travel blog of Munich Airport. Click here to find more exciting tips for Sicily, Trapani & Palermo.
