Catania's past dates back to ancient times; it was founded more than 2,700 years ago, and its impressive cityscape encompasses a range of architectural styles, including Baroque masterpieces and remnants of the Roman-Greek civilizations. Catania is eclectic, loud, vibrant and sometimes a little too much for one's senses, but also captivating and energizing.
📸 THINGS TO DO
La Pescheria / Catania Fish Market https://goo.gl/maps/5Bp1VQF8DsypqmUy8
One of the most authentic experiences in Catania is visiting La Pescheria ~ the fish market. If anything sums up the beating heart and soul of Catania, it's this place - bustling, loud, a bit grimy, but full of life and vibrancy, like the locals themselves. A great place to see Sicilian life, it instantly awakens all the senses - and the appetite too!
The small streets near Catania Cathedral turn into a loud and lively market from Monday to Saturday. Not only fish, but the freshest vegetables and fruits, cheeses, salami, olives, and spices are also available. Sicily is a very fertile island and Sicilian vegetables and fruit are famous throughout Italy, so it is worth shopping here (mainly because it is cheaper and of better quality than in the store)
TIP: 🅿️ Parking - Parking Borsellino AMT https://goo.gl/maps/8RHuc7vaZCEVs7An7
Paid parking, which is a few steps from the market and main square, is an ideal starting point for your sightseeing.
Piazza del Duomo https://goo.gl/maps/1Cs7He44bsq6BLi89
Here you will be able to see a lot of beauty - Santa Agata Cathedral, elephant obelisk, the marble Amenano fountain, and Via Etnea - the main pedestrian street of Catania, opens from here.
Tip: if you're looking for a nice view, you can go to the top of the domes of the Chiesa della Badia di Sant'Agata https://goo.gl/maps/9Bqua26BsuDHu8Jy9
Palazzo Biscari https://goo.gl/maps/HoqxtvX3CYcAu9du5
One of the magnificent palaces of Catania and the jewel of the Sicilian Baroque.
Bellini Park https://goo.gl/maps/AsqqzsRLfttRL6nM8
From Duomo Square, walk up Via Etnea to Bellini Park, this is the "Central Park" of Catania. On the way, you will pass the ruins of the Roman amphitheater at Piazza Stessicoro.
Benedictine Monastery https://goo.gl/maps/CfPgwyYpp2Y3tFes7
This abbey is the second largest Benedictine monastery in Europe. It is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to the Department of Humanities of the University of Catania.
🍽 RESTAURANTS
🍕 Al Vicolo Pizza & Vino
Al Vicolo Pizza
https://goo.gl/maps/EXPPMfRh6gHMnZVB7
Our favorite pizza place. The pizzas are huge, one pizza is enough for two people. Personally, we usually order a cheese / cold cuts (tagliere) platter as a starter, followed by a pizza as a side.
🐟 Planete Marine https://goo.gl/maps/gJhiNHuPDXEDEHqw5
Planete Marine
If you want to eat fresh fish and seafood in an authentic local environment, you will like this place. We love it very much. The place itself is very small and only has a few tables. When you arrive, you have to take a number and then you can order at the counter when it's your turn. They will ask for your name and when your food is ready, they will shout your name 🤣 A real local experience.
Our favorites: calamaro fritto (fried squid), spaghetti alle vongole (spaghetti with scallops), zuppa di cozze (steamed mussels with tomatoes) and salmon & tonno crudo (fresh salmon and tuna)
🍷 Vermut https://goo.gl/maps/DEhe7cB3kDjsT7yJ6
This place is relaxed and ideal for a lighter lunch or dinner. It's not a restaurant, but rather a bar where they serve small things like "tapas". We love their baked, stuffed potatoes, Sicilian sausage and cheeses & hams.
🍝 A Putia Dell Ostello https://goo.gl/maps/tifd2dBARHKFSL3s8
Pizza, pasta, cous-cous
🥩 Il Borgi Di Federico https://goo.gl/maps/kbuZy2BY6A5Dz9ZL9
This place is great for meat-lovers, they also have good pizzas
🍣 Taiyo https://goo.gl/maps/TNZ1v7rytHAx9gDU6
If you love sushi, definitely come here. This is an all-you-can-eat sushi place with great quality food
☕️ 🍰 COFFEE, ICE-CREAM, SWEETS
Savia
☕️🍰 Prestipino Duomo Cafe https://goo.gl/maps/VhaRY2nvpJGbxjfP7
Ice cream, cakes, coffee in Catania's main square with a wonderful view of the cathedral. Instagram worthy photos for sure
🥐 Savia https://goo.gl/maps/c9FJYY7RtZyLMXTX7
At the entrance to the Bellini park, if you want a quick, light and cheap lunch or snack, you can buy delicious arancini, cookies and coffee here.
🍧Comis https://goo.gl/maps/HCrUChH5KSD4Poos9
Granita and gelato
🍦Caffé Epoca https://goo.gl/maps/7JfzeeJx2xnGdrG66
Our favorite place for gelato! If you come to Catania by car from Aci Trezza, it will be on the way so you can stop here (it's a long walk from the city center however so it’s best to stop here coming or going to Aci Trezza) . Don't miss the ice cream here, our personal favorites are strawberry (it's like you're eating the fruit itself) and pistachio
How much time should we allocate to Catania?
You can comfortably walk around Catania in half a day, but of course you can spend a whole day here.
How to get there from Aci Trezza?
15 minutes by car (depending on traffic)
About 30-40 minutes by bus, bus route 534 runs between Aci Trezza and Catania, the bus stop in Aci Trezza is here: https://goo.gl/maps/Wnb24tL6UpoBRjqRA