Sights of Catania - photos of the most interesting places to see
If you decide to explore the sights of Catania on your own without a guide, plan your route in advance. Use our guide: we will tell you about the places that every tourist should visit.
What to see in Catania first?
When compiling the list of "the most interesting places in Catania", the travel agency TurPoisk relied on reviews and recommendations from experienced guides and travelers. In our general opinion, the following sights should attract your attention during a tour in Catania:
Cathedral Square
If you only have one day to see the city, be sure to visit the main square of Catania. Piazza del Duomo was created with the participation of the architect Giovanni Battista Vaccarini. Here you will find the Elephant Fountain and the main town hall of the city, built in the 18th century, as well as the Cathedral and Porta Uzeda. Your visit will be especially memorable if you explore the square in the evening. At night, the buildings are illuminated, and each building takes on its own unique colors.
Fish Market
After sightseeing in Catania, go shopping. At the city's fish market, you can find a variety of fish from the Ionian and Tyrrhenian Seas, as well as octopus, squid, shrimp of various sizes and other seafood. In addition, the stalls offer meat, alcoholic beverages, fruits, vegetables, cheeses and olives. You won't have to think long about where to go for fresh produce in Catania.
Volcano Etna
One of the main natural attractions of Italy, which is invariably included in various ratings, is the volcano Etna. You can climb its slopes on foot, and guides in Catania will show you how to do it, and can accompany you in a jeep or cable car. If you organize the trip yourself, you will not have to pay for exploring the craters. At the bottom of the volcano there are souvenir shops offering products made from Etna lava. It is noteworthy that this material was used in the construction of many buildings and structures in Catania.
Via Crociferi Street
This street is also decorated with historical churches and buildings with a rich history, most of which date back to the 17th century and are made in the Baroque style. Via Crociferi, like all of Catania, is considered the "pearl of Sicilian architecture."
Via Etnea Street
The main street in the center of Catania was landscaped in the 17th century. On both sides of the alley, paved with solidified lava stones, there are beautiful Baroque buildings, churches and commercial facilities.
Cathedral of Saint Agatha
Inside the main architectural masterpiece of the city, built in the 16th century on the site of a temple destroyed by an earthquake, are kept the relics of Saint Agatha and the graves of famous Italian personalities - the rulers of the Sicilian Kingdom, Cardinal Dusmet and the famous architect Vincenzo Bellini. The facade of the cathedral is decorated with elegant sculptures and slabs of expensive marble. At the entrance there are numerous plaques depicting scenes from the life of Saint Agatha.
Church of Saint Benedetto
One of the key architectural values of Christianity is the church, the construction of which began in the 17th century and lasted for several decades. Soon the building became the property of the Benedictine city community. The facade of the church, its balustrades, colonnades and stairs demonstrate the elegance of the Baroque. Under the vaults of the temple there is a unique painting from the mid-18th century, made by D. Tuccari. According to local legend, from this temple you can get to the monastery of St. Nicholas through a secret underground passage.
Church of St. Nicholas
The largest religious building in Sicily stands out for its unusual appearance. The church began to receive parishioners in the 17th century, but was soon almost completely destroyed by the eruption of Etna. The main features of this landmark are the façade and colonnade, which survived the earthquake. The luxurious interior is also impressive. It is better to visit these iconic places of Catania accompanied by a guide.
Collegiate Basilica
Another important historical and architectural monument in the Baroque style is the basilica. Its façade is particularly impressive: the columns of the first level are decorated with a magnificent balustrade, above there is a huge window, behind it are figures of great martyrs, including a sculpture of St. Agatha, the patroness of the city. At the very top there is a bell tower with beautiful frescoes depicting scenes from the lives of saints and the Virgin Mary.
Roman Amphitheater
The amphitheater, built in the second century from brick and lava stone, is located on the outskirts of the city and can accommodate up to 150,000 spectators. Entrance to its territory is free. Over time, having lost its original function, the amphitheater became a quarry. At the end of the 17th century, it was destroyed by an earthquake, and was discovered only during excavations in the 19th century.
Odeon
If you do not know what to visit in Catania, head to the city center, where there is a Roman theater that can accommodate 7,000 spectators. Built in the first century AD, its diameter exceeds one hundred meters. The Odeon, added later, can accommodate 1,500 people. In the 6th century, the theater fell into disrepair, and in the Middle Ages, its blocks and decorations were used to build a church. The development of the street network around the theater and the Odeon stopped further destruction of the complex.
Benedictine Monastery
This site is under the protection of UNESCO. The date of its foundation is 1355, and in the 18th century the building underwent a large-scale restoration. One of the symbols of Catania is the arch, which is part of the monastery complex. According to legend, the temple was built by clergy in just one night. Now there is a museum inside, where the best works of modern art are presented. Visitors can view the ancient halls restored to their original appearance and see the ancient Roman domus discovered during archaeological excavations under the building.
Museum of the Allied landing in Sicily
The museum complex is dedicated to the events of 1943, when Sicily was captured and then liberated from the Mussolini regime. The exhibits include items that tell about military events and the course of the operation: archival documents, weapons samples, military uniforms, photographs and other artifacts.
Giovanni Verga House Museum
In one of the buildings where the famous writer Giovanni Verga lived, the creators of the museum recreated the atmosphere that existed during his lifetime. The furniture was partly brought from his house in Milan, preserving the spirit of the era and creativity in the "verismo" style.
Massimo Bellini Theater
The idea of creating an opera stage in Catania was born in the city authorities in the early 19th century, but construction work began only in 1890. The first opera staged in the new theater was "Norma". The theater building is made in the Baroque style. The grand foyer features a statue of Bellini, while the ceiling of the main hall is decorated with paintings of scenes from his most famous works.
Palazzo Biscari
The luxurious 18th-century palace, built by famous masters of the time such as Battaglia and Benedetto, is an example of the lush and ornate Rococo style. The exterior and interior of the palace are richly decorated, emphasizing the wealth of the Biscari family.
Museum and Theatre Pupi Fratelli Napoli
The original puppet theatre, famous since the beginning of the 20th century, is known for its productions dedicated to knightly tournaments. The modern repertoire of Opera dei pupi has become much more diverse. Tickets for the puppet theatre performances can be purchased at most hotels in Catania, as well as from private guides.
Diocesan Museum
The museum exhibits many valuable Christian relics, including clothing, sculptures and paintings. The museum has a unique atmosphere, and even the furniture here has a centuries-old history. Particularly noteworthy is the restored building of the Diocesan Museum, built in 1965, with its many decorations. If you are interested in history and architecture, this museum is definitely worth a visit.
Toy Museum
In the center of Catania, not far from the main city square, there is a toy museum. Opened in 2002, it displays a variety of toys collected from all over Sicily.
Ursino Castle
The 12th-century palace, now converted into an art gallery and a museum of the city's history, houses ceramics, sculptures, ancient weapons, ancient mosaics and paintings. It is worth setting aside a whole day to fully explore all the exhibits representing the artistic culture and history of the city.
Sights of Catania: what else to visit in Italy?
We have briefly told you about the main sights of Catania. If you have already visited this beautiful Sicilian city and looked at them, be sure to visit the following places:
Villa Bellini Park
The complex is located on several mountain peaks connected by stairs and alleys. It is worth visiting to enjoy quiet walks among a variety of exotic trees and flowers, to see original sculptures, artificial ponds and babbling fountains.
San Giovanni Li Cuti Beach
This is a rocky coastline formed by the solidified lava of Etna. Entry into the water is difficult due to the stones (a special descent is installed only for the tourist season), so visiting this place with children for swimming is not recommended. The beach infrastructure here is not developed. This is a rather secluded place, which is famous for its picturesque views and magnificent nature.
Botanical Garden
This unique object is under the jurisdiction of the city university and was landscaped in the 19th century. The territory of the botanical garden is divided into several zones. In the first you will find local flora, including many exotic palms and more than 2,000 plants, and in the second - plants brought from different parts of the world. In good weather, this place is popular with both tourists and locals.
Etnaland Amusement Park
Next to the volcano, there is a huge entertainment center and a large shopping area. This relatively new complex is suitable for visiting with the whole family. Here you can visit the dino park with "live" dinosaurs and the water park with various water attractions. Also, guests of "Etnaland" can enjoy exciting laser shows.
Lido Azzurro Beach
The beach strip here is carefully landscaped and offers both paid and free services and entertainment. Locals consider Azzurra to be the best beach on the entire coast. Its vast territory has playgrounds for children and adults, small cafes overlooking the sea and many souvenir shops.
We at TurpoisK hope that you will be interested in personally visiting these attractions of Catania, which we have just told you about. Be inspired by these impressions and travel further around Italy, also discovering the sights of other well-known cities in the region.
