Location: Centro Catania
Top Things to do in Centro Catania
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The 10 Best Things to do 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. Info Point Sicily Excursions
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 101 reviews
The Info Point Catania Sicily Excursions is situated in the heart of Catania, near the Duomo Square. Besides giving tourists information about spots to visit, the bureau offers many types of excursions: Etna Tour, Taormina, Siracusa, Agrigento, Piazza Armerina and Villa Romana del Casale, Bike and Trekking Tour, Wine Tour, Sailing Tour, Alcantara Tour. In addition, you can buy tickets for the cable car and the theme parks and you can rent cars, scooters and bicycles
Reviewed By Sightsee729342
I went in there on a whim to try to book a mount etna tour and I blinked and this lady Simona had planned my entire holiday with an impressive amount of enthusiasm and a big smile. She was also so helpful at helping me understand how to do things as cheaply as possible and how to get the best out of my money , as I'm a student solo traveller this was much appreciated . I had no idea I'd gain so much by walking into this place . Simona evidently loves her job . I hope after university I find a job I'm as happy in as her . What an inspiration . Loads of love x
2. 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!
3. Palazzo Biscari
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 459 reviews
The most important private palace in Catania and precious testimony of the Sicilian baroque. The frescoed halls, full of charm and elegance, represent a splendid setting for concerts, meetings, receptions, gala evenings, fashion shows.
Reviewed By Carolbike - White Salmon, United States
The owner is an excellent story teller about the original prince and his family, bringing the history of this well-maintained palazzo to life. It was very interesting.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. Monastero dei Benedettini
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,221 reviews
Il Monastero di San Nicolo l'Arena di Catania (#monasterocatania), gioiello del tardo barocco siciliano e tra i complessi benedettini piu' grandi d'Europa. L'edificio monastico, che nasce nel '500 e si sviluppa fino ai giorni nostri, e' un esempio di integrazione architettonica tra le epoche: contraddistinto da molteplici trasformazioni oggi e' patrimonio mondiale dell'Unesco. Sede del DiSUM (dipartimento di Scienze Umanistiche) dell'Universita' degli Studi di Catania, custodisce al suo interno due domus romane, i chiostri e un intero piano costruito da G. B. Vaccarini sopra il banco lavico del 1669. Dal 2010 Officine Culturali, in collaborazione con l'Universita degli Studi di Catania, si occupa della valorizzazione del Monastero dei Benedettini. Il Monastero e' considerato uno dei beni culturali piu' significativi del meridione d'Italia. La missione assunta da Officine Culturali consiste nel rendere accessibile e comprensibile il Monastero nel migliore dei modi e al maggior numero di persone possibile. A tal scopo Officine Culturali ha attivato un'offerta di fruizione variegata e dinamica. Attraverso il servizio di visite guidate giornaliero e' possibile conoscere gli aspetti piu' significativi dell'ex plesso monastico. I percorsi guidati per i piu' piccoli sono arricchiti dai laboratori, dove la narrazione delle "arti e mestieri" benedettini e' svolta in maniera creativa e divertente da professionisti della didattica dell'arte, dell'architettura, delle tradizioni e delle scienze. Oltre al quotidiano svolgimento delle attivita' di promozione, valorizzazione, informazione e accoglienza, Officine Culturali e' promotrice di iniziative ed eventi culturali e di intrattenimento, finalizzati a rendere il Monastero uno spazio di integrazione e aggregazione per la collettivita'.
Reviewed By Baspall - Salamina, Greece
The tour of the monastery takes around 1.5 hours and gives you the opportunity to learn the very interesting history that comes with it. We took the tour in English language presented by Nicola... He was exceptional.
8. Teatro Massimo Bellini
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 364 reviews
Reviewed By CL-XXIX - Brittany, France
Neat decoration. A place renowned for its acoustics, one of the best in the world. Etna is responsible for it, the nature of the soil brings its own sound. The most renowned artists have passed there. The guided tour allows you to know the details of its rich history.
9. Manganelli Palace
10. 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
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