Catania between Baroque and Antiquity
Accommodation in Catania
At the foot of Mount Etna, Piazza del Duomo and the Cathedral of Saint Agatha are considered the Baroque heart of Catania. From ancient buildings and monasteries to market and festival traditions, the city reveals different cultural layers. Catania is one of eight urban components of the UNESCO World Heritage Site “Late Baroque Towns of the Val di Noto.” In Catania, the site includes specific areas of the city, not the entire historic center. This helps put the extent of the World Heritage site in context when visiting.
Ancient buildings and Baroque architecture
The ancient theater of Catania was built in the 1st century AD over an existing Greek structure. Performances are held there again during the summer months. Check the program for your travel dates if you would like to plan to see a show. At the Roman amphitheater, the excavated area is open to the public. 3D reconstructions show what the structure may originally have looked like. As access information can change, check it before your visit.
Palazzo Biscari is considered a symbol of Catania’s Baroque architecture. Its Rococo hall is particularly lavishly decorated with mirrors, stucco, and frescoes. Visits are possible by prior booking; during the visit, a descendant of the princely family tells visitors about the palazzo’s past and family stories. Check the booking arrangements before your trip.
Monasteries and cultural sites
The historic Monastery of San Benedetto on Via Crociferi is described as a UNESCO World Heritage site in Catania. It can be visited as part of a guided tour offered in Italian and English. Languages and visiting times may change; check the latest information in advance. The Monastery of San Nicolò l’Arena is an example of late Sicilian Baroque architecture and is one of the largest Benedictine complexes in Europe. It houses a Roman domus, cloisters, and a hanging garden. A daily scheduled tour is open to everyone. Check the latest access information before your visit.
Markets, kiosks, and local traditions
Catania’s fish market is located in a tunnel in the former city wall, built under Charles V. It is also a place where visitors can immerse themselves in Sicilian street food culture. Drinks at Catania’s kiosks are prepared using ingredients including mineral water from the slopes of Mount Etna, syrups, and soda; syrups made from Sicilian citrus fruits are also often used. “Acqua e zammù” is part of the local drinking tradition: at traditional kiosks, passersby were offered water with a few drops of anise extract.
The main celebrations in honor of Saint Agatha in Catania take place on February 3, 4, and 5. The procession passes the sites of her martyrdom and follows the city’s oldest streets. Worshippers carry richly decorated monumental candleholders known as “Candelore.” Check the program if your trip falls during this period, as details of the procession may vary. Catania’s pastry shops sell “Cassateddi di Sant’Aita,” also known as “Minni di Sant’Aita,” and “Olivette,” which are associated with the tradition of Saint Agatha. These sweets are available seasonally.
Getting oriented for your trip
At the airport, an AMTS Catania bus connects Catania-Fontanarossa Airport railway station with the airport terminal. Check the schedule and fare before you travel. In the wider region around Catania, trails in Etna Park mostly cross recent and historic lava flows, through wooded and treeless areas, and across land that has been used for agriculture for many years. As the status of individual trails may change, check the conditions before planning your visit.
Discover more destinations: Carlentini, Pasteria-Lapide, Ragalna, Mascali, Monterosso, Santa Venerina, Paternò, San Cono, Carruba, San Michele Di Ganzaria, Fondachello, Santa Tecla, San Giorgio, Maletto, Mirabella Imbaccari, Vaccarizzo-Delfino, Mineo, Grammichele, San Giovanni La Punta, Pedara, Misterbianco, Linera, Calcerana-Marina, Militello In Val Di Catania, Castel Di Judica, Aci Catena, Caltagirone, Calatabiano, Aci Castello, Canalicchio, Gravina di Catania, Montargano, Santa Venera-portosalvo, Motta Sant'anastasia, Ramacca, Valverde, Belpasso, Vizzini, Torre Archirafi, Castiglione Di Sicilia, Trecastagni, Sant'alfio, Zafferana Etnea, Nicolosi, Nunziata, Piedimonte Etneo, Randazzo, Riposto, San Giovanni Montebello, San Pietro Clarenza, Mascalucia, Aci Sant'antonio, Santa Maria Di Licodia, San Gregorio Di Catania, Aci Bonaccorsi, Bronte, Biancavilla, San Leonardello, Pozzillo, Viagrande, Passopisciaro, Adrano, Montelaguardia, Scordia, Santo Pietro, Presa, Licodia Eubea, Aci Trezza, Acireale, Catania, Giarre, Linguaglossa, Milo, Puntalazzo, Sant'agata Li Battiati, Tremestieri Etneo, Petrosino, Fiumefreddo Di Sicilia.
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