Location: Centro Catania
Top Things to do in Centro Catania
The 10 Best Points of Interest & Landmarks in Centro 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. Santuario S. Maria dell' Aiuto
2. 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.
3. 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
4. Chiesa della Badia di Sant'Agata
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 346 reviews
Reviewed By karocska - Krakow, Poland
Beautiful view of Mount Etna and Piazza Duomo. Get up there by few hundred stairs or elevator for a few euros and get the most amazing view of this gorgeous city.
5. Cappella Bonajuto
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 83 reviews
Cappella Bonajuto is one of the few tangible witnesses of a far away era (the Bizantine era), which however may be seen and explored, but mostly lived through the careful management of this corner of history, which has made all this possible. Once here you can choose to visit the chapel and its past, or choose it as an ideal location for your events or important occasions. The experience will take you back in a time that began at the beginning of the VI century A.D. "Cappella Bonajuto: Historical site. A Bizantine monument immersed in the heart of Sicilian Baroque" Walking on Via Vittorio Emanuele, entering its narrow and ancient streets, you'll find one of the strongest monuments of Medieval Catania: Cappella Bonajuto awaits you in all of its reborn splendor to be lived, just as it was in the past. The religious building, dating back to approximately the VI century is found in the 'Civita' neighborhood, and this is where the Chapel resisted the terrible earthquake of 1693. It is rich with repertories from the 400's and from medieval times. The paintings and decorations are very rare. Concerning its original location, the ground level of the building has dropped over two meters due to the earthquakes and lava flow. Salvatore, popularly known as Salvatorella, was integrated in the construction of the home residence of the Bonajuto family in the 4th century. In the 1930's the chapel was renovated by Paolo Orsi and Sebastiano Agati.
6. Palazzo Della Cultura
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 72 reviews
Reviewed By bordeimaria - Piatra Neamt, Romania
At the Cultural Palace in Catania, we visited a pop art exhibition, «Viva Sant'Agata - Catania in Pop Art», very interesting, unique, of a Catania artist, Umberto Gagliano. We liked not only the paintings but also his person, the painter taking his visitors himself. It was a real pleasure to meet him. We do not know what we would say to be over 30-40 years on the streets of Catania. What we know for sure is that we want to present and represent us in a painting, artist Umberto Gagliano, in his light and colors. And if you take home a painting by the artist, you will not only take his talent, but complete joy.
7. Chiesa di San Francesco d'Assisi all'Immacolata
8. Piazza Universita
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 572 reviews
Reviewed By joshformentera - Copenhagen, Denmark
The best place for stroll in Catania. The Piazza is surrounded by beauty such as the Doumo church, the baroque beautiful buildings, restaurants, coffeeshops and beautiful fountain. Nice place to sit around the elephant monument and relax while the place provides you with a nice view around the place.
9. Palazzo degli Elefanti
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 537 reviews
Reviewed By Andydjp - Stotfold, United Kingdom
This sits in Piazza del Duomo. The Elephant statue is a centre piece and focal point for tourists. The Piazza has the Cathedral and other impressive sites around it as well as a number of restaurants. A very nice area and worth a bit of time outside a restaurant watching the world go by.
10. Santuario Sant'Agata al Carcere
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 72 reviews
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