DISCOVER CATANIA
PIAZZA DUOMO AND "U LIOTRU"
Piazza Duomo (The cathedral square) is the historical and artistic heart of Catania, here it blends all the baroque spirit of the city with the beautiful buildings of the town hall and the palace of the Chierici that ring "U Liotru" the famous obelisk with the elephant (symbol of the city). In the same square stands imposing the church of St. Agatha, the patron saint of the city (The feast of St. Agatha, during the first days of February, is the world's third-largest by number of participants). Also near the square is the “Sicilian Fountain of Trevi", it is actually named Fontana dell'Amenano and has got the same tradition of throwing coins into it. Along the Via Etnea, a few meters away, you will find another beautiful square in Baroque style (Piazza Università, which takes its name from the University of Catania, the oldest in Sicily.
VIA ETNEA AND THE ANCIENT CATANIA
Via Etnea is the main road that divides the city, here you will find the ruins of the ancient Catania, which you can visit for free, while continuing right you can admire the beautiful Villa Bellini, the city park of Catania among manicured gardens and antique sculptures.
VIA CROCIFERI
Via Crociferi is a monumental secondary road built in the XVIII century. It begins in Piazza San Francesco d'Assisi and is reached by passing under the arch of San Benedetto. This street, surrounded by churches, monasteries and few civilian homes, is an example of the unity of Baroque architecture. In the short space of about 200 meters, there are four churches. The first is the church of St. Benedict connected to the convent of Benedictines from the arch of the same name and colleague the great Badia to the small Badia. It is accessed by a staircase and is surrounded by a wrought-iron gate. Then we reach the church of St. Francesco Borgia which is accessed via two staircases. The two churches are separated by a small street leading to the Palace Asmundo Francica-Nava, jutting out of the square Asmundo. Afterward you will meet the Jesuit college, the former headquarters of the Art Institute, containing a beautiful cloister with porticos on columns and arcades. Going ahead there is the Church of San Giuliano considered one of the finest examples of Baroque in Catania. The building, attributed to the architect Giovan Battista Vaccarini, has a convex prospectus and elegant lines. Continuing and going beyond Via Antonino di San Giuliano, you can admire the Convento dei Crociferi and then the church of St. Camillo. Down the street is located Villa Cerami, which is home to the Faculty of Law of the University of Catania.
PIAZZA VINCENZO BELLINI "TEATRO MASSIMO"
Piazza Vincenzo Bellini, better known as Piazza Teatro Massimo, is considered by the young people meeting point of the “movida” in Catania, with many pubs, nightspots, live music and restaurants located in the nearby streets. No time limit to the nightlife of Catania, get lost through these small and picturesque streets until late at night.
THE MONASTERY OF BENEDECTINES
The Monastery of St. Niccolò l’Arena or Montecassino Abbey of St. Niccolò l’Arena is a complex set of ecclesiastic buildings located in Piazza Dante in the historical center of Catania and consists of an important Benedictine convent building and a monumental eighteenth-century church.
It was founded by monks coming from the monastery located near Nicolosi, whose in the mid-sixteenth century asked the Senate for permission to build within the city walls, as threatened by the eruption of Mount Etna and the presence of brigands. For its allocation purely urban may be considered a convent, but popularly is called "Benedictine Monastery". Given the occupied area, approximately 210 x 130 m., It is considered by extension one of the largest monasteries in Europe.
The monastery was declared a national monument by royal decree of 15 August 1869. The church was built from a project by the Roman architect Giovanni Battista Contini from 1687 and retains - as well as valuable blades of Bernardino Nocchi, Stefano Tofanelli, Vincenzo Camuccini, Mariano Rossi, Ferdinando Boudard - the great Baroque organ by Donato Del Piano and sundial long (40 meters) by Sartorius and Peters. The huge factory, passed by Francesco Battaglia to Stefano Ittar, remained unfinished on the facade, although it still is clear the intention of bringing in Catania architectural language Roman Church. Inside there is the shrine of the fallen of World War I and II. cared by the Honor Guards to the shrines of the war of Catania.
OPEN-AIR MARKETS
"A PISCARIA" AND "A FERA O' LUNI
The fish market in Catania ("A piscaria”) is one of the oldest in Italy, if you want to breathe the aan air full of traditions, you should definitely go there. You can find it every morning in the old town center, with access from the Fountain dell'Amenano and extends up to the arches of the Navy in Via Dusmet. In addition to fresh fish you will find fresh and dried fruits, vegetables and meats.
The market in Piazza Alberto ("A Fera o 'Luni"): the name should come, according to some authors, from the presence of a temple dedicated to the Roman goddess Luna (Diana) or to the god Assyrian-Babylonian Luni, while popularly it is spread the tradition that the market was active only on Mondays (Lunedì) and hence the name. The fair which takes place today is weekly, with the exception of Sunday, and has a wide range of products: from food to clothing, from household products to ethnic, up to fruit and sale of toys. The market in recent decades has become a true international crossroads, with traders - as well as Italian – from Africa and China.
GREEK-ROMAN ARCHEOLOGICAL PARK
1) The Terme dell'Indirizzo (thermal baths) are located in the eighteenth century part of the city, with access from Piazza Currò. These are some remains of a Roman bath complex dating back to the second century. The complex shows a calidarium and a frigidarium, in addition to the furnaces for heating water and air and all ducts for the supply of water and those for unloading. In the same square, we find the famous local "Agora Hostel", a central point for the Movida in Catania. Inside the hostel, there is the possibility to free visit an underground volcanic cave inside of which flows the river Amenano.
2) The Terme della Rotonda: the building, considered the oldest temple of worship in Catania (I-II century AD), was estimated as a pagan Pantheon converted into a place of Christian worship and dedicated to Mary in 44 AD. This tradition, albeit erroneous, held for nearly three centuries its charm, at least until the studies of the Prince of Biscari, who first identified the building as thermal environment of the Roman imperial period. The bombing of 1943 devastated the nearby church of Santa Maria della Cava, dating from the eighteenth century, and ruined heavily the structure. Between the forties and fifties, there was a series of facilities consolidation works. The direction of the work was entrusted to Guido Libertini which however did not spare the church structures, or some precious frescoes, to highlight the Roman structures.
3) The Terme Achilleane: underground thermal baths dating to the fourth-fifth century of which remains just a small portion visible in the Piazza del Duomo. The access is by passing through a corridor with a barrel vault made in the space between the Roman structures and the foundations of the cathedral to which access it is made by a short flight of steps of different ages at the right of the observer. The plant name is derived from an inscription on a marble slab which fell into six main fragments, actually very patchy, dating from the first half of the fifth century, now on display in the Civic Museum at the Castello Ursino. It is not well known about the real dimensions of the big thermal center and what it can be visited today is just a small portion of its extension.
BADIA OF SAINT AGATA CHURCH
The restoration works completed in 2015 have returned to the city of Catania one of the most beautiful panoramic views of the historic center of the Etna capital. From the Badia of St Agata church it is possible to go up to a terrace from which, protected in their enclosure by jealousies and by the high balustrade that closes the facade, the nuns continued to follow the life of the city and above all to attend the processions before all that dedicated to the Patron Saint Agatha. A space that in summer 2015 was also open to culture, lending itself very well to small theatrical or musical performances, with its intimate atmosphere, closed between the two large domes of the Cathedral and the Badia, and the starry sky as a ceiling.
Even higher, at about 40 meters high, the new walkway of the dome from which you can dominate the historic baroque center and admire - from a new and fascinating perspective - the most important monuments. From the Massimo Bellini Theater to the chimneys of Viale Africa, from the Cathedral to the Ursino Castle, from the churches of Via Crociferi to the great Benedictine monastery, the whole city will be at your feet.
THE "COLISEUM" OF CATANIA
The Roman amphitheater of Catania, (just a small section is visible today in Piazza Stesicoro), was probably built in the second century on the northern edge of the ancient city. The area where it is located, which is now part of the historical center of the city, in the past it was used as a necropolis. It is part of the Greek-Roman Archaeological Park of Catania. The ring, buried by lava, is almost entirely walkable. The access to the amphitheater excavation is through an iron gate decorated with arches pierced in the upper register and totally smooth in the lower register. The theater presented 14 steps. It was built with the lava stone covered with marble and had thirtytwo rows of seats. According to the tradition, Naumachia were held in it, true naval battles with ships and fighters after having the amphitheater filled with water by the ancient aqueduct. The amphitheater in Catania is structurally the most complex of Sicilian amphitheaters and the largest in Sicily. It belongs to the group of large a,phiteaters such as the Coliseum, the amphitheater of Capua and the Arena of Verona.
THE ROMAN THEATRE
Mistakenly known to most as the Greek Theatre, the Roman Theatre in Catania is located in the old town centre, between Piazza San Francesco, Via Vittorio Emanuele, via Timeo and Via Teatro Greco. Its present appearance dates back to the second century and has been highlighted since the late nineteenth century. To the east, it borders the Odeon. Built entirely of marble and lava stone, it is one of the oldest and most fascinating attractions of the city. It is accessible from Casa Pandolfo in Via Vittorio Emanuele II.
THE ODEON
The Odeon is located near the Roman Theatre. The semicircular construction had a capacity of about 1500 spectators. In addition to musical performances and dance it is likely to be used for testing of the events held at the nearby theater.
CASTELLO URSINO (CASTLE)
The Castello Ursino was founded by Frederick II of Svevia in the thirteenth century. The castle had a certain visibility during the Sicilian Vespers, as the seat of parliament, and later, residence of the kings of Aragon including Frederick III. Today it houses the museum of the town. Area full of taverns, restaurants and pubs.
CORSO ITALIA
Starting from Piazza Giovanni Verga, the walk to Corso Italia, allows you to make shopping of the most famous brands. Until you get to Piazza Europa from which you can access to the beach or stroll through the small urban shopping center "Borghetto Europa".
SAN GIOVANNI LI CUTI
One of the smallest and characteristic fishing villages of Catania, there are still the usual low houses of fishermen and an ancient port, as well as having a reputation for having in his area among the best fish restaurants in the city. At night the soft lighting turns it into a real crib on the seashore. San Giovanni Li Cuti is within an area covered by several lava flows in 1169, 1329 and 1381, in those years it was also covered part of the ancient port Ulysses; this stretch of coast is called la Scogliera (cliff).
The beach is between the port of the same name, used only by small fishermen boats, and some beaches that are accessed via the nearby Piazza Europe. The beach consists of black volcanic sand and access to the sea is through lava rocks. Each summer San Giovanni Li Cuti becomes a free beach equipped with showers, changing rooms, bathrooms, walkways, and ladders to the sea.
LA PLAYA
The city of Catania, like very few others in the world, is really lucky having within its urban territories wonderful golden sand beaches that line the beautiful east coast of Sicily. The magic atmosphere made of crystal-clear sea and in the background the majestic Etna dominates. But also cliffs made of volcanic rocks overlooking the sea. The Ionian Sea washes the coast of Catania for its entire length, 65 kilometers, along which sandy beaches and gravel alternating with basaltic cliffs.
La Playa: from the port and heading towards Syracuse you will meet la Playa inserted in the beautiful setting of the Gulf of Catania. La Playa is almost completely occupied by bathing clubs but there are free areas managed the municipal administration. Crowded in summer is one of the favorite places to locals but not only, in fact, there are many tourists who come to these golden beaches to enjoy the warm sun and the wonderful sea. Almost 18 kilometers from the port to the village Agnone Bagni. In the evening most of the beach resorts in summer are transformed into open-air discos that gather thousands of young people.
LA SCOGLIERA (CLIFFS)
La Scogliera (cliffs): always starting from the port, this time continuing to Messina, the cliffs of Catania is extended until you reach Acicastello and Acitrezza. Beaches of volcanic origin that offer the most fascinating scenery of the entire coast. Among the pearls of the cliff we count I Faraglioni (stacks) of Acitrezza: eight rocky crags of volcanic origin, overlooking the stunning scenery. These stacks are surrounded by a wonderful legend, that gives charm to the entire beach, according to which the giant Polyphemus would have thrown these huge boulders in an attempt to hit the ships of the fugitive Ulysses. Crystal clear sea thanks to the marine reserve that was established in this area. Also ideal for those who like to dive and explore the hidden world beneath the waters, made of rich and varied marine life. Here you will also find The Basalt Columns: present only in Acitrezza, Scotland (Fingal's Cave) and Ireland (the path of the giants). These columns lava prismatic steps pentagonal or hexagonal, which usually settle the Pillows are the more amazing can nature reserve to the human eye. In their particularity can be seen in the harbor of Acitrezza, but in their majesty 'on the eastern side of the great Faraglione.
ACICASTELLO AND ACITREZZA
Besides the beaches, very popular with tourists are the two villages of Acicastello with many bars and restaurants and the majestic castle that dominates the square. Full of charm, thanks to the stories of Verga "I Malavoglia", is Acitrezza and its coastline full of pubs and restaurants by the sea.
ETNA PARK
The Etna Park, with its 59000 hectares has the primary task to protect a unique natural environment and the unique landscape surrounding the highest active volcano in Europe. With its forests, the trails, the unique landscapes, the typical products, the historic centers of its municipalities, the Park is all year round a fascinating place for travelers and nature lovers, and food, sports outdoors in the breathtaking scenery. At the center of the ecosystem of the park is Mount Etna, with its lithological boundary of 250 km, the height of about 3350 m. and an area of about 1260 square kilometers.
GOLE DELL'ALCANTARA (GORGES)
Visiting the Gole dell’Alcantara (Gorges) means entering into the bowels of the earth, admiring the sensational effects of natural phenomena. The canyon of the gorges, between rock walls up to 50 meters, was originated by the cooling of lava flows in the icy water of the river, resulting in rocks with curious shapes. For about 25 meters you can go into the initial section of the trail in the valley, including small lakes and waterfalls of pure water. A small beach at the mouth of the gorge is available in summer, until the water level does not get too high or whirling; you can also dip but it is advisable to wear a wetsuit, you can enjoy rafting.
TAORMINA
Taormina is just about 200 meters above sea level and has a special structure that makes it look like a real terrace embellished with a beautiful panoramic view that stands out in overwhelming the nearby Mount Etna. Here tourism is active all year round and is facilitated not only by cultural and natural beauty typical of the city but also from a good accommodation system and entertainment and the typical Sicilian warmth. Over the centuries, the city has always been a major tourist destination that has hosted famous personalities, from Wilhelm II of Germany, many writers like Goethe, Maupassant, DH Lawrence, A. France, Oscar Wilde, Brahms, designers such as Dior, Versace, etc. The historic village of Taormina is of medieval origin and is famous not only for its monuments, including the structure of its streets and its old doors. Taormina center, pedestrians, around the Corso Umberto I, the main artery of the city. The famous Greek Theatre, a majestic building of Hellenistic period completely rebuilt by the Romans, is the second-largest theater in Sicily (after Syracuse) and is home to many cultural events, very important international concerts, etc. The Roman Odeon, built in imperial times on some Hellenistic ruins, is located behind the seventeenth-century St. Catherine's Church and the Cathedral of St. Nicholas, built in the thirteenth century, in the eighteenth century was completely restored and now holds numerous works of art of the XV-XVII.
ISOLA BELLA E CASTELMOLA
Do not miss a visit to Castelmola a beautiful village on the top with an amazing view and Bar Turrisi a bar well known for the daring depictions and a panoramic terrace, and to Isola Bella, a beach which has Caribbean traits grounded by a tiny tongue bathing pebble.
ACIREALE
Acireale is a Baroque-style city, situated on a plateau of lava origin called "Timpa" in the current home to the Natural Reserve of Timpa of Acireale. The nature reserve is famous for its scenic walkway called "the small spots", where you can admire many plant and animal species. Acireale is famous for its Carnival which hosts performances since the end of '600 wagons allegorical-grotesque and flowered masked groups. In Acireale, you should enjoy the Baths of sulfurous water, exploited since the time of the Greeks.
The baroque style of the city is visible in the main churches, the Cathedral and along the streets, in homes and large masks carved by lava portals.
ETNALAND (THEME PARK E PARCO ACQUATICO)
Etnaland, the amusement park of Sicily, located at the foot of Mount Etna, Unesco heritage, really near to Catania, 25 mins by car. The park has over time changed its kind of recreation offering guests experience more exciting. In these years of business, it has been experiencing a great success of the public who enthusiastically welcomes the growing realization in 2001 of the Water Park. The water park Etnaland becomes a referent point of Sicilian summer fun.
In 2013, begins a new adventure, Etnaland invested in another ambitious project with the construction of the park mechanic Themepark. The guest who chooses Etnaland have access to a true island of fun with lots of entertainment options: from the purely playful zone characterized by the Themepark and Aquapark and, to that teaching represented by the Prehistoric Park.