Location: Catania
Top Things to do in Catania
The 10 Best Free Things to do in Catania, Sicily
Catania has been a prize of many empires over the centuries, from Greeks to Romans to Arabs to Normans to Spaniards (to name a few). But its citizens have a more dangerous enemy right in their backyard—Mount Etna, Europe's largest and most active volcano, which destroyed the city with earthquakes and lava flows in 1693. Look closely at the baroque buildings dating from after the eruption—you'll notice a creative use of lava.
Restaurants in Catania
1. Basilica Catedrale Sant'Agata V.M. Catania
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,857 reviews
Reviewed By ArmyRangeratMIT - Wayne, United States
The city of Catania is a wonderful afternoon visit, with parking quite easy right outside the piazza… Heading towards the cathedral you see the iconic statue in the middle of the piazza that quite often symbolizes all of Sicily… Plenty of pictures can be had here and you can walk in almost any direction to find shops and stores… And of course the cathedral looks beautiful in the afternoon sun whether or not you go inside or just enjoy the beauty! Pick a spot to have a bite to eat and enjoy your glass of wine and your good luck finding a lovely afternoon in Catania!
2. Chiesa di San Nicolo All'Arena
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 212 reviews
Reviewed By ludortravel - Iasi, Romania
It is an astonishing piece of architecture in terms of both size, architectural solutions and emotional impact. It includes also a memorial of the fallen soldiers and not only. The entrance is free and a paid guided tour is available.
3. Piazza Duomo
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 3,939 reviews
Reviewed By saronic - Zurich, Switzerland
Catania's Piazza del Duomo is definitely the center of the city and probably also its most beautiful square. Besides the Duomo it is surrounded by various attractive buildings like the Palazzo dei Elefanti, which on its backside touches the Piazza Università. Opposite of it, to the south, is the Seminario dei Chierici with - attached to it - the Porta Uzeda. In the center of the square is the city's symbol, a fountain with an elephant surmounted by an obelisk. There are usually plenty of people in the piazza, many obviously using it as a meeting point.
4. A' Piscaria Mercato del Pesce
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 769 reviews
Reviewed By NormanLewis - Great Torrington, United Kingdom
The daily fish-market in Catania is right behind the fountain on the edge of the Piazza Duomo and is a combination of food market and street theatre. At its centre are the many stalls selling an enormous range of fish, shell fish and cephalopods (squid, octopus, cuttlefish) many of which are not easily identified. The vendors try to out do each other with a vocal performance designed to attract customers and many people line the raised terrace above the outdoor part of the market just to watch this display. The quality of the fish is excellent - although prices can be high. but you get what you pay for. In the surrounding streets are many other stalls selling fresh fruits and vegetables; and others where butchers wield huge hatchets dismembering all sorts of meats or extremely sharp knives to slice the meats incredibly thin which seems to be the preferred cut in Sicilian cuisine. Some of the sights can be a bit off-putting to English sensibilities – especially the vast amounts of offal – but that’s the joy of experiencing other cultures. Highly recommend a visit - in fact, we detoured through the fish market even on days when we didn’t need to buy anything, just for the sights and sounds of an excellent market.
5. Orto Botanico dell'Universita di Catania
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 257 reviews
Reviewed By AlecG92 - London, United Kingdom
These are lovely botanical gardens, great selection of plants, succulents and palms as well as many native Sicilian plants. A good option to fill 30-45mins of pleasant strolling, and nice that it is free of charge so you don’t feel like you need to stay a long time
6. Via dei Crociferi
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 411 reviews
Reviewed By elia452 - Sofia, Bulgaria
The street is with nice buildings and churches, it is near Piazza Duomo, deserves to be seen. We had a good walk of 20000 steps every day
7. Fontana dell'Amenano
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 676 reviews
Reviewed By Hitchcock2
This glowing white carrara marble fountain is in perfect condition and stands on one corner of the magnificent Piazza Duomo just in front ( or behind) depending which way one comes from, of the fish market which has to be one of the best fish markets one can hope to visit. The fountain is hemmed in by buildings but this does not distract from its beauty. Flowing under the fountain is an underground river. Our guide told us there used to be 36 canals and now on one side behind the fountain, right beside the entrance to the fish market one can see the Fish Market Fountain with its 7 spouts.
8. Basilica Collegiata
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 213 reviews
Reviewed By ludortravel - Iasi, Romania
On of the most decorated churches in Catania. Not very big but with an impressive facade and really beautiful paintings inside. Free entrance, close to the cathedral.
9. Saint Biagio Church - Sant'Agata alla Fornace
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 94 reviews
Reviewed By ludortravel - Iasi, Romania
Sant'Agata alla Fornace church is a very important place for the people of Catania. The tradition says that here is the place where Saint Agatha, the patron of the city, was tortured. This and many other interesting facts and legends can be learn during the guided tour. It costs only one euro per person and you have the opportunity to learn from passionate young guides like Luca a lot about the saint, about the church and about Catania.
10. Chiesa di San Francesco d'Assisi all'Immacolata
TAGS
