Catania was the first place I visited in Sicily, Italy, and there were so many things to do in Catania that I thought I’d never be ready to leave. Located in the middle of the east coast of Sicily, Catania is rich with history (including Ancient Roman ruins), bustling with trade and proud of its culinary heritage. It’s also stunningly beautiful and full of Sicilians who are eager to share their way of life with international visitors.
Because Catania has Sicily’s busiest airport, it’s the first stop on my Sicily Itinerary. I recommend spending at least one or two full days in Catania upon arrival in Sicily, since it’s so easy to walk around and explore the city on foot. I spent two full days in the city and aside from the bus ride in from the airport, my only form of transportation was my own two feet.
1. Catania Fish Market
No trip to Catania is complete without a visit to the Catania Fish Market! This is one of the most typical Sicilian things to do in Catania – wake up early and head to the market in Piazza Pardo to see all the fresh fish and seafood that arrived on the boats that morning. The market is open Monday to Saturday, from about 7:30 am to noon, and the earlier you arrive the better the show!
The fishmongers are always happy to show off their products, and if you’ve rented an apartment nearby (like this one) you can buy something to cook at home. Fortunately, for travelers who don’t have kitchen access, there are dozens of fish restaurants around the market serving up the same fresh fish you just saw on ice. I highly recommend Scirocco Sicilian Fish Lab, a bustling street food eatery serving up casual paper cones of fried fish and seafood. They also have a vegetarian option!
Take note that the fish market is smelly and… slushy. Your shoes are likely to get dirty, and if you’re wearing long pants or a long skirt there’s a risk of dragging them through fish guts. Choose your clothing wisely!
2. Excursion to Mount Etna (A Live Volcano!)
I didn’t take an excursion to Mount Etna, but not because I didn’t want to! I’m not joking – I have a lengthy history of visiting places days before massive natural disasters or other emergencies strike, and I didn’t want to cause the volcano to erupt by visiting it.
If you don’t leave a trail of destruction in your wake, a trip to Mount Etna is definitely one of the most popular things to do in Catania. This isn’t one you probably can’t do on your own, but fortunately many reputable tour companies offer several different Mount Etna trip options, including full-day hikes, half-day morning or sunset visits, and trips combining a visit to Mount Etna with another destination (like a vineyard or the Alcantara Gorges).
If you don’t make it out to Mount Etna, you can still experience a little bit of the volcano… right at your feet! During my visit to Catania, most of the streets had a fine layer of black dust trapped along the edges and between the cobblestones. This wasn’t dirt, but rather ash from Etna’s most recent mini-eruption!
3. Castello Ursino
A stunning monolith just a few blocks south of Catania’s busy city center, Castello Ursino (Bear Castle) is a popular attraction in Catania. Dating back to the thirteen century, Castello Ursino in its earliest days was the seat of the Sicilian parliament. Back then it was also on a seafront cliff; that cliff became very much landlocked after Mount Etna erupted in 1669 (see, there’s a reason I didn’t ascend the volcano!).
Today, the castle is home to a civic museum, featuring a collection of archeological artifacts from Catania and the surrounding regions. History buffs will want to visit the museum, while other travelers will just want to gawk at the huge castle from the outside.
4. Elephant Fountain & Piazza del Duomo
I arrived in Catania fairly early in the morning. After I dropped off my luggage at my B&B (“BAD – Breakfast and Design Catania”) I walked across the street, under an archway and up a set of stairs, and found myself in the picturesque Piazza del Duomo, home to Catania’s famous Elephant Fountain.
The lava stones used to make this fountain date back to the Roman era, though the fountain itself is only about 300 years ago. Convoluted legend has it that the obelisk atop the fountain has magical powers; the story really went on for ages but if I recall correctly, Satan gifted magical powers to a magician, who used them to manifest the elephant and then rode around town on the elephant using magic to benefit himself and evade capture. Or something.
Around the piazza you’ll also find the Chiesa della Badia di Sant’Agatha, also known as the Duomo. This church is named after Saint Agatha of Sicily, an innocent young virgin who, in the third century, supposedly allowed her breasts to be cut off rather than agree to turn her back on Christianity. Today, Catania’s bakers also commemorate her bravery by making breast-shaped white pastries with maraschino cherry “nipples” on top; you can find these minne de Sant’Agata at any sweet shop in town.
5. Roman Theaters of Catania
Visiting Catania’s ancient Roman theatres is one of the most popular things to do in Catania. The town is home to two well-preserved ancient theatres: the Ancient Theatre and Odeon (shown above) and the Roman Amphitheater. The former is located near Piazza San Francisco d’Assisi (his namesake church can be seen in the background) while the latter is right on busy Via Etnea.
The Ancient Theatre and Odeon are quite hidden; look for the small, marked doorway on Via Vittorio Emanuele II. At the time of my visit admission was only €6, making it a better option (in my opinion) than its counterpart in Siracusa. On the other hand, it’s impossible to miss the Roman Ampitheatre, as it’s clearly visible from the street above.
6. Shop for Pistachios & Perfumes
Catania has lots of lovely shopping streets. Via Etnea is lined with wide sidewalks and a range of stores ranging from well-known high street names to independent Sicilian vendors. Nearby, Piazza Carlo Alberta has a busy street market where you can pick up inexpensive clothing, accessories, electronics and other goods.
However, there are two shops that I need to highlight. First, Nelson Sicily is an absolute gem. If you are flying home from Catania, you absolutely have to stop here and stock up on delicious Sicilian food and drink. Look for everything pistachio, local olive oil, countless types of pesto and local wines from the vineyards at the foot of Mount Etna.
If you fall in love with the smells of Sicily (juicy lemons, warm pistachios, moody church candles and the fresh sea air) you can take that scent home with you via a niche perfume from Boudoir 36. This tiny independent perfume shops sells niche and independent perfumes that are hard to find in other shops, along with the owner’s own line of scents, each with a uniquely Sicilian story behind it.
7. Teatro Massimo Bellini
Two Italian women stopped me in the street and asked me for directions to Teatro Massimo Bellini. When they realized I was a foreign tourist they burst out laughing, while I exploded with pride. They thought I was an in-the-know Italian!
Composer Vicenzo Bellini hails from Catania, and this opera house was named in his honor. It’s possible to take a guided tour of the opulent theater building, which dates back to 1890. At publication time, Italian-language tours run from Tuesday to Saturday, several times a day, and can be reserved on the theater’s website. Of course, you can also take in an opera or ballet performance – check the calendar on the website for dates, times and ticket prices.
Whether you see a show, take a tour or just peek at the exterior, no visit to Teatro Massimo Bellini in Catania is complete without a stop at Comis Ice Cafe, on the piazza in front of the theater. It’s said that this is the best gelato in Catania, and vegan options are available too!
8. Monastero dei Benedettini
One of the largest monasteries in Europe is now home to the Faculty of Humanities at the University of Catania. As such, you can walk right into the entrance of this building, but if you’d like to really explore this historic monastery and learn about life for the Benedictine monks who lived here, a guided tour is recommended.
A €14 combined ticket provides you with a visit to the most important parts of the monastery, long with admission to the Diocesan Museum in Piazza Duomo (including its ancient underground Roman baths).
9. Chiesa San Nicolo
Frommers calls this the spookiest church in Sicily, and it’s easy to see why. Construction started in 1687 but was halted a few years later, when Catania was hit by a massive earthquake. Although the interior was finished with a beautiful cupola, lovely frescoes and and organ, the exterior facade was left unfinished, creating a foreboding entry that, at first, you might think is impenetrable.
You can get a sense of the power of Mount Etna when you step inside the church and look for the meridian line. At the time of construction, the sun hit the meridian line at exactly noon. However, as the ground has shifted over the years with each new eruption or quake, the sun now crosses the line thirteen minutes later than before.
10. Eat Pasta Alla Norma
You can’t leave Catania without trying the city’s most famous dish: pasta alla norma! When it comes to pasta alla norma, the pasta itself is open to interpretation. You might find a dish with penne (like the one above), with spaghetti, with casarecce, or with almost any other shape. The rest of the dish should be the same no matter where you order it: lots of fried eggplant and tomato sauce, served with a liberal grating of ricotta salata cheese on top.
I first tried pasta alla norma at Nuova Trattoria del Forestiero, which is quite famous for its pasta alla norma (and for its grandmotherly proprietor having taught chef Jamie Oliver how to make the iconic dish). The food was good but the service left something to be desired, and I quickly learned that this is a safe dish to order almost anywhere. It also gets rave reviews at nearby restaurants La Pentolaccia and and Giglio Rosso, so go wherever you can get a good table without having to queue.
Traveling to Sicily? I have a full Sicily Itinerary that doesn’t require a rental car. You can see Catania, Sircusa, Taormina, Agrigento and more using public transportation, and I’ll tell you how!
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