🌋 What to See in Catania in One Day: The Black Baroque City at the Foot of Etna

🥰 Welcome to Catania – Sicily’s Fiery, Vibrant City of Contrasts

If Sicily were a symphony, Catania would be its bold opening movement — loud, dramatic, full of passion and unexpected beauty. Nestled between Mount Etna and the Ionian Sea, this city is built from lava stone and animated by the spirit of survival, art, and street life.

Today, I’m taking you on a whirlwind one-day itinerary through Catania: from ancient ruins to lively markets, from stunning Baroque squares to underground rivers, and of course — mouthwatering street food that’s reason enough to visit on its own.

So bring your curiosity, wear comfy shoes, and let yourself be swept up in the energy of this unforgettable city.

🏛️ Piazza del Duomo & Cattedrale di Sant’Agata – The Beating Heart of Catania

Begin your journey in Piazza del Duomo, the heart and soul of Catania — a square where layers of history, faith, and folklore converge in spectacular fashion. This square isn’t just beautiful — it’s a living symbol of Catania’s spirit: resilient, exuberant, and carved from fire.

The piazza sits on ancient Roman foundations, but what we see today is largely the result of the post-1693 Baroque reconstruction, a period when Catania was reborn from the ashes — quite literally — after a massive earthquake. The dark lava stone paving and radiant baroque facades create a contrast that’s uniquely Catanese.

At the center stands the city’s most iconic (and unusual) figure: “u Liotru”, the lava

stone elephant statue carrying an ancient Egyptian obelisk. Erected in 1736, it’s attributed to architect Giovanni Battista Vaccarini. Its origins, however, are much older and mysterious. Legend links the elephant to Heliodorus, a mischievous magician of Byzantine Catania who allegedly rode the creature through the city. Others suggest the statue is a Roman relic, symbolizing protection against the fury of nearby Mount Etna.

Facing the square is the majestic Cattedrale di Sant’Agata, dedicated to the city's patron saint — a young Christian martyr who became a symbol of strength and faith. The original church was commissioned by Count Roger I of Sicily in 1078, built over the ruins of the Terme Achilliane, ancient Roman thermal baths. After being destroyed by earthquakes and lava flows, it was completely redesigned in the 18th century in full Sicilian Baroque style.

The facade, completed by Vaccarini, is a masterpiece of contrasting materials: white Carrara marble and dark Etna basalt. Corinthian columns reclaimed from Roman buildings line the entrance, while the massive dome and bell towers rise in powerful elegance. Inside, three naves lead you to altars adorned with red marble, golden stucco, and the intense reverence of centuries of devotion.

What to look for inside:

• The Chapel of Saint Agatha, which houses her relics, including the silver bust and the sacred veil said to have stopped lava flows. These relics are the heart of the annual Festa di Sant’Agata, one of the largest religious processions in Europe.

• The crypt and the Roman baths (Terme Achilliane), accessible on guided tours, offering a fascinating look at how pagan and Christian histories coexist beneath your feet.

• The tomb of Vincenzo Bellini, Catania’s beloved opera composer, rests here beneath the marble floor — a poetic tribute in the house of his city’s protector.

🥖 La Pescheria Market – The Soul of the City

Tucked behind the grand facades of Piazza del Duomo, La Pescheria isn’t just a fish market — it’s an explosion of life, tradition, and Sicilian identity. As you step into the narrow, shaded alleys that curve behind the cathedral, the soundscape instantly changes: shouts in thick Catanese dialect echo off the stone walls, knives slap against fish scales, and laughter rises like steam from the market’s soul.

This historic market dates back to at least the 9th century, when Arab rule introduced sophisticated systems of urban planning and trade. Since then, La Pescheria has grown and evolved, but its spirit has remained untouched. Here, the past is alive: the same families have run stalls for generations, passing down secrets of the sea and recipes as precious as relics.

Every stall is a spectacle. Massive swordfish hang from hooks, their crescent fins gleaming under the Sicilian sun. Octopus tentacles spill from silver trays, still curled from the sea’s chill. Mussels, sea urchins, clams, anchovies, tuna belly — the bounty is endless and presented with pride, noise, and color.

But this market isn’t only about fish. It’s a full-blown sensory experience. The scent of lemon and fresh parsley, mixed with brine and diesel from the early-morning boats. The colors of ripe tomatoes, chili peppers, and fresh herbs stacked on wooden crates. The sounds of sellers hawking their goods, jokes traded between stalls, and bargaining that feels more like performance art than commerce.

If you’re hungry — and you will be — stop for a bite:

• Frittura di paranza: a paper cone overflowing with golden, crispy tiny fish, shrimp, and calamari, served with a squeeze of lemon. It’s street food with the soul of the sea.

• Arancini alla catanese: unlike the round Palermo version, these are cone-shaped, often filled with ragù, mozzarella, or even pistachio cream and mortadella.

• A shot of espresso at a marble counter, standing shoulder to shoulder with fishmongers on break, is a ritual in itself.

🧠 Did you know? Beneath your feet runs the ancient Amenano River, partially visible through a glass walkway near the entrance to the market. Once above ground, the river was later covered by lava during Etna's eruptions. Today, its cold waters feed the fountains nearby — including the famous Fontana dell’Amenano, also known as “the water that flows backward.”

La Pescheria is gritty, unfiltered, and gloriously authentic. It’s where Catania bares its true face — loud, passionate, proud — and invites you to taste not just its food, but its heartbeat.

🏟️ Teatro Romano & Odeon – Antiquity in Lava Stone

Hidden behind an unassuming row of houses on Via Vittorio Emanuele II, Catania’s Roman Theatre and Odeon offer a mesmerizing journey into the city’s ancient soul. Unlike other archaeological sites isolated from modern life, this one is interwoven into the urban fabric, half-swallowed by the buildings that crowd its perimeter. It feels like history whispering from the cracks — ancient Catania emerging through the skin of the present.

The Teatro Romano dates back to the 2nd century AD, though earlier Greek foundations likely lie beneath. Carved directly into the slope of a former hill (possibly a lava-covered terrace), the theatre once held over 7,000 spectators. It hosted performances of tragedies, comedies, and civic events in a structure rich with classical architectural features: concentric stone seats, a semi-circular orchestra pit, vomitoria (exits), and remnants of stage buildings.

What makes this site so atmospheric is the use of lava stone, a uniquely Catanese element. Its dark, porous texture gives the entire space a shadowy, almost sacred mood. You walk along elevated platforms, with the remains of the Roman seating tiered around you, and the Amenano River — now underground — still flows beneath, audible in the quietest moments.

Adjacent to the theatre is the Odeon, a smaller and more intimate structure likely used for musical recitals and poetic readings. It held around 1,300 people, and though less grand than its neighbor, it adds an important cultural layer to the site. Scholars believe it may also have served for religious ceremonies and rehearsals.

These ruins were rediscovered and excavated primarily in the 19th and 20th centuries, but even today, archaeologists continue to uncover new layers — mosaics, sculptures, foundations — reminding us how much ancient Catania lies just beneath the surface.

🎟️ Entry: Around 6€ – includes access to both the Roman Theatre and the Odeon. Tickets available on-site.

🕒 Time Needed: Allow at least 45–60 minutes to fully explore, linger, and photograph.

📸 Photographer’s Tip: Come early for dramatic shadows and fewer visitors. Afternoon light brings out the warmth of the lava stone, while morning light offers better contrast with the vegetation that creeps along the ancient walls.

🧠 Did you know? In ancient times, this district of Catania was considered the cultural and social center of the city — with temples, spas, forums, and fountains. Walking these ruins, you’re literally stepping across layers of civilization: Greek, Roman, Byzantine, Arab, Norman — all echoing through the stone.

This is not just a monument. It’s a palimpsest of history, buried and reborn, where lava, time, and memory converge.

⛲ Piazza Università & Via Etnea – Baroque Stroll with a View Walk north along Via Etnea, the city’s main thoroughfare, paved in dark lava stone and lined with shops, churches, and elegant palazzi. This is Catania’s living room — full of students, families, and travelers.

Stop at Piazza Università to admire its symmetry and storytelling lampposts (look closely at the figures — they represent local legends). Grab a granita al pistacchio or caffè con panna and keep walking uphill toward Mount Etna’s looming silhouette.

Along the way:

• Church of San Michele Arcangelo, with its lava stone facade

• Palazzo dell’Università, seat of one of Italy’s oldest universities

• Countless gelato and cannoli temptations

🌋 Monastero dei Benedettini – A Labyrinth of History and Silence

Just a short 10-minute stroll west from Via Etnea, in the quiet neighborhood of San Nicolò, you’ll encounter one of the most majestic and mysterious monuments in all of Sicily: the Monastero di San Nicolò l'Arena. Today part of the University of Catania, this sprawling complex is among the largest Benedictine monasteries in Europe and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, rich in architectural marvels and layers of history that span from ancient Rome to the Enlightenment.

The monastery was originally founded in 1558 by Benedictine monks seeking refuge from Mount Etna's frequent eruptions. Its name, “l’Arena,” refers to the lava fields upon which it was built, remnants of the massive 1669 eruption that dramatically reshaped the area. Construction continued for nearly two centuries, absorbing late Renaissance, Baroque, and Neoclassical styles into a harmonious whole.

What makes this place exceptional isn’t just its size — though the complex covers more than 100,000 square meters — but its quiet grandeur and the way it blends the sacred with the intellectual. After the unification of Italy and the suppression of religious orders, the monastery was eventually converted into a university campus, breathing new life into its ancient stones.

Inside, expect to discover:

• Two magnificent cloisters, each a peaceful green square framed by elegant arcades. The older one is intimate and serene; the larger cloister is often compared to a cathedral square for its monumental proportions.

• The dramatic main staircase, designed by Vaccarini, which spirals upward like something from a palace.

• Underground Roman ruins — fragments of a domus, a Roman road, and the ancient city's layout, viewable beneath glass floors.

• The massive yet unfinished Church of San Nicolò l’Arena, whose stark, lava-stone facade and immense interior echo with silence and scale.

🎟️ Entry: €10 only with guided tour, which is highly recommended to access the restricted areas and understand the hidden stories of the site.

🕒 Recommended Time: Minimum 1 hour for highlights; up to 2 hours to explore thoroughly.

👀 Insider Tip: Don’t miss the eerie and fascinating underground lava cave, created during the 1669 eruption. Monks once used it for spiritual retreat, water collection, and as a cool escape from summer heat. The natural cave beneath the monastery links geology and mysticism in a way few places in the world can.

Walking through the monastery is like moving through a living palimpsest — every courtyard, corridor, and cavern tells a different chapter of Sicilian history. You’ll leave not only impressed by its scale, but deeply moved by its quiet grandeur, where centuries of faith, science, and volcanic survival meet in solemn beauty.

⛪ Castello Ursino – Medieval Power in Lava Stone

As your afternoon unfolds, make your way toward the old port area, where Castello Ursino rises with stoic authority from the urban landscape — a dark stone sentinel from the 13th century, built at the command of Emperor Frederick II of Swabia, one of the most enlightened and enigmatic rulers of medieval Europe.

This fortress, completed around 1239, was originally constructed right on the coastline, strategically positioned to defend the city from naval attacks. But nature, ever a central character in Catania’s story, had other plans. The massive eruption of Mount Etna in 1669 sent rivers of lava surging toward the sea, engulfing neighborhoods and dramatically altering the coastline. The sea receded, and Castello Ursino found itself landlocked, preserved within a hardened shell of volcanic rock.

Its architecture reflects both functionality and imperial symbolism: massive square towers, thick lava-stone walls, and a central courtyard. Though it’s a military structure, you can see traces of Frederick’s cultural ambitions — a ruler who corresponded with philosophers, poets, and scientists, and who imagined Sicily as a crossroads of civilizations.

Today, Castello Ursino houses the Museo Civico di Catania, an engaging museum that guides visitors through thousands of years of local history. Its eclectic collection includes:

• Greek and Roman archaeological finds, including amphorae, coins, busts, and mosaics

• Medieval weapons and armor

• Renaissance and Baroque paintings, featuring Sicilian artists and devotional works

• A fascinating section of ancient inscriptions and epigraphs, offering insight into the linguistic evolution of the island

Wandering through its halls, you’ll feel the echoes of siege, ceremony, and scholarship. The castle walls have withstood invasions, eruptions, earthquakes, and revolutions — each event leaving its mark.

🎟️ Entry: Around 6€ (free on the first Sunday of the month)

🕒 Time Needed: 45–60 minutes for a quick visit, up to 90 minutes for art lovers and history buffs

Climb to the rooftop terrace, and you’ll be rewarded with panoramic views of old Catania’s rooftops, the distant slopes of Etna, and the once-submerged coastline. It’s a perfect moment for reflection — above the city, between sky and stone, where history feels vividly present.

🧆 Lunch in Catania – Street Food or Sit Down?

Time to eat! Catania’s cuisine is bold, rich, and full of character — just like its people.

🍽️ Options:

1. Trattoria Da Antonio – Classic Catanese cuisine, including Pasta alla Norma (eggplant, tomato, ricotta salata)

2. Scirocco Sicilian Fish Lab – Quick, delicious seafood street food near the market

3. Me Cumpari Turiddu – Chic but traditional, with local wines and vintage décor

Don’t forget to try:

• Pasta alla Norma

• Horse meat (carne di cavallo), grilled or as meatballs

• Minne di Sant’Agata, sweet ricotta-filled pastries shaped like... well, you’ll see 😉

🌇 Sunset Walk & Aperitivo – A Gentle Goodbye in Catania’s Golden Light

As the Sicilian sun begins to dip toward the horizon, it’s time to slow your pace and embrace the final chapter of your Catania adventure — with a sunset stroll and a well-deserved aperitivo in one of the city’s most atmospheric corners.

You have two enchanting options to close your day:

🌿 Villa Bellini This lush, 19th-century public garden is one of the oldest and most elegant in Sicily. Located along Via Etnea, it’s a true urban oasis filled with century-old trees, exotic plants, cascading fountains, and sweeping staircases that lead to elevated viewpoints perfect for watching the sky turn gold and pink. At the heart of the garden lies a beautiful floral clock and a romantic promenade lined with marble busts of Sicilian poets and thinkers. The park’s upper terraces offer panoramic views of the city — and on clear days, even of Mount Etna’s smoldering summit.

🎭 Piazza Teatro Massimo Alternatively, head to this elegant square just behind the Baroque façade of Teatro Massimo Bellini, Catania’s famed opera house. The piazza comes alive at aperitivo hour, with small tables spreading out across the cobblestones, locals chatting over spritzes, and street musicians adding a soundtrack to the evening light. It’s ideal if you want to sip, socialize, and soak in the local lifestyle — just steps from one of Italy’s most beautiful theaters.

🍸 Top Aperitivo Spots in the Area:

• Razmataz Wine Bar – Known for its creative cocktails, relaxed vintage décor, and occasional live jazz. Great spot for wine lovers and those who want a more artsy, bohemian vibe. 📍 Via Montesano, 19, 95131 Catania CT, Italy📞 +39 095 715 1150🕒 Open daily from 6:00 PM to late night

• Prestipino Café – A classic Catanese café with outdoor seating perfect for people-watching. Try their Campari spritz or go local with an Etna Rosso wine. 📍 Piazza Università, 13, 95124 Catania CT, Italy📞 +39 095 715 1846🕒 Open daily from 7:00 AM to midnight

• First Lounge Bar – Sleek, modern, and offering rooftop views of Etna on clear evenings. Ideal if you’re looking for a more cosmopolitan setting with refined service. 📍 Via Teatro Massimo, 25, 95131 Catania CT, Italy📞 +39 095 250 0436🕒 Open from 6:00 PM to 2:00 AM (closed Mondays)

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💡 Essential Tips for Enjoying Catania Like a Local

• ✈️ Getting there: The Fontanarossa International Airport (CTA) is just a 15-minute drive from the city center. Taxis and the AMT Alibus connect the airport directly to Via Etnea and the main railway station.

• 🚶 Getting around: The historic center is best explored on foot. For destinations outside the core, use local buses, taxis, or rental scooters (widely available through mobile apps).

• ☀️ Climate tips: In summer, Catania is hot and dry — temperatures can easily exceed 35°C (95°F). Always carry water, wear sunscreen, and protect yourself with a hat. Many locals avoid the midday sun and resume activities in the cooler evening hours.

• 🕊️ Cultural etiquette: Churches require modest attire — avoid sleeveless tops and short shorts when entering religious sites. Greet locals with a warm "Buongiorno" or "Buonasera" — Sicilians appreciate courtesy and friendliness.

End your day not in a rush, but in full appreciation — of the light, the flavor, the breeze off the Ionian Sea, and the subtle hum of a city where lava, legend, and life intertwine beneath the stars.

🗺️ Custom Itinerary: One Day in Catania

• 🕘 9:00 AM – Piazza Duomo & Cathedral Visit📍 Piazza del Duomo, 95124 Catania CT, Italy🎟️ Free entry to the Cathedral; guided tours for underground baths available on-siteStart your day at the heart of Catania. Admire the symbolic lava stone elephant statue “u Liotru”, then step into the stunning Cattedrale di Sant’Agata. Inside, discover the chapel of the saint, the tomb of Vincenzo Bellini, and, if open, descend into the ancient Roman thermal baths beneath.

• 🕤 10:00 AM – La Pescheria Market📍 Via Cardinale Dusmet (behind the Cathedral)🕒 Open Mon–Sat, 7:30 AM to 1:30 PMThis vibrant market is a feast for all senses. Watch local vendors call out prices in Sicilian dialect as you snack on fried seafood or a warm arancino. The energy here is contagious — a raw slice of Catanese life.

• 🏟️ 11:00 AM – Roman Theatre & Odeon📍 Via Vittorio Emanuele II, 266, 95124 Catania CT🎟️ €6 entrance (includes both sites)🕒 Open daily 9:00 AM – 5:00 PMStep into antiquity: explore tiered lava-stone seating, underground passages, and the mysterious echo of a Roman past. The Odeon beside it hosted musical performances in its day.

• 🌋 12:00 PM – Walk up Via Etnea to Monastero dei Benedettini📍 Piazza Dante Alighieri, 32, 95124 Catania CT🎟️ €8 with guided tour (highly recommended)🕒 Tours available 10:00 AM – 6:00 PMVia Etnea is perfect for a slow walk with a coffee or granita. Reach the monumental Benedictine Monastery, one of the largest in Europe. Discover underground lava caves, Roman ruins, and grand staircases.

• 🧆 1:30 PM – Lunch TimeRecommended eateries:

  • Trattoria da Antonio – Via Castello Ursino, 59 – ☎️ +39 095 321795

  • Scirocco Fish Lab – Piazza Alonzo di Benedetto, 7

  • Me Cumpari Turiddu – Piazza Turi Ferro, 5 – ☎️ +39 095 7150142 Try the Pasta alla Norma, or go local with grilled carne di cavallo (horse meat).

• ⛪ 3:00 PM – Visit Castello Ursino📍 Piazza Federico di Svevia, 95121 Catania CT🎟️ €6 (free first Sunday of each month)🕒 Open daily 9:00 AM – 7:00 PMExplore the powerful medieval fortress of Emperor Frederick II. Inside is the Civic Museum, with Greco-Roman relics, medieval weaponry, and Renaissance art. Climb to the roof for sweeping views.

• 🌇 4:30 PM – Aperitivo or Garden WalkOptions:

  • Villa Bellini – 📍 Via Etnea, 292: Enjoy lush gardens, fountains, and Etna views

  • Piazza Teatro Massimo – For a drink and people-watching

• 🍸 Recommended Spots:

  • Razmataz Wine Bar – Via Montesano, 19 – ☎️ +39 095 715 1150

  • Prestipino Café – Piazza Università, 13 – ☎️ +39 095 715 1846

  • First Lounge Bar – Via Teatro Massimo, 25 – ☎️ +39 095 250 0436

• 🎯 Final Thought – Catania is More Than a City, It’s a FeelingCatania is not polished — but it's real. It’s where lava, legend, and life meet. In just one day, you’ll encounter ancient history, baroque beauty, street culture, and the deep soul of Sicily.

• Come once — and you’ll feel the pull to return.

✨ Final Reflection – Catania, Where Fire Meets Soul

In just one day, Catania reveals itself as a city of contrasts — ancient and modern, sacred and sensual, raw yet refined. From the echoes of Roman theaters to the whispers inside baroque cloisters, from the aroma of sizzling street food to the view of Etna glowing at sunset, Catania is more than a destination — it's an experience etched in stone and spirit.

This is a place that doesn’t try to be perfect. Instead, it’s honest, passionate, alive. It draws you in not with polish, but with character — in every lava stone, in every smile from a market vendor, in every bell toll from a hidden church.

Whether you came for the architecture, the flavors, the myths, or the light — you’ll leave with something much deeper: a piece of Sicily that stays in your heart, long after your footprints fade from its streets.

So when your day in Catania ends, it’s not a goodbye. It’s the beginning of a new connection with the island’s soul of fire.

Until next time — or as the locals say: Arrivederci e torna prestu!

🏞️ What to See Near Catania – Unmissable Attractions Around the City

etna from catania

If you have extra time beyond your one-day itinerary — or if Catania captures your heart and convinces you to stay longer (which it often does!) — the surrounding area offers a treasure trove of cultural, natural, and culinary experiences. Here’s a guide to the best day trips and excursions near Catania, all within easy reach and full of Sicilian charm.

🌋 Mount Etna – Europe’s Tallest Active Volcano

📍 35 km from Catania | 🚗 ~45 minutes by car | 🚌 Tours available from city center

No visit to eastern Sicily is complete without witnessing Mount Etna, the majestic volcano that has shaped the land, the myths, and the resilience of its people for millennia. Rising over 3,300 meters, Etna is Europe’s most active volcano and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

You can explore its slopes via:

• The Etna Sud (Nicolosi) side: Home to Rifugio Sapienza, cable car access (Funivia dell’Etna), lava fields, and panoramic trails

• The Etna Nord (Piano Provenzana) side: Quieter and more forested, great for hiking and winter skiing

🧭 Tips:

• Dress in layers; temperatures drop significantly with altitude

• Wear sturdy shoes — you’ll be walking on volcanic rock

• Book a guided 4x4 tour or volcanological excursion for safe and informative access to the craters

✨ Don’t miss the view at sunset — seeing lava glow beneath a starry sky is unforgettable.

🏖️ Aci Trezza & Aci Castello – Legends and Lava by the Sea

📍 10–13 km from Catania | 🚌 AMT Bus 534 or 534D | 🚗 20 minutes by car

These picturesque seaside villages just north of Catania are steeped in myth and natural beauty.

• Aci Trezza is famous for the Faraglioni dei Ciclopi, towering lava rock stacks that, according to Homer’s Odyssey, were hurled into the sea by the Cyclops Polyphemus at Ulysses.

• Visit the Casa del Nespolo, a small museum dedicated to Giovanni Verga’s novel I Malavoglia, set in the village.

• Aci Castello boasts a dramatic Norman castle built directly on a lava promontory overlooking the Ionian Sea. Explore the small museum inside and enjoy coastal views from its terraces.

🎟️ Castle entry: ~€3🕒 Best visited in the late afternoon, followed by dinner with a sea view.

🍫 Modica & Ragusa – Baroque Cities and Chocolate Traditions

📍 ~100 km from Catania | 🚗 ~1.5 hours | 🚆 Train via Syracuse with changes

If you're a fan of baroque art, stunning architecture, and unique food, these two cities in the Val di Noto are a dream.

• Modica is famed for its Aztec-style chocolate, made using an ancient cold-processing method. Visit Antica Dolceria Bonajuto, the oldest chocolate shop in Sicily.

• The town itself is split into upper and lower halves, both adorned with ornate churches like San Giorgio and charming alleys perfect for wandering.

• Ragusa Ibla, as featured in our previous guide, is a labyrinth of golden stone, noble palaces, and sacred architecture. The view from Santa Maria delle Scale is among the most iconic in Sicily.

🎟️ Entry to churches and palaces varies, but many are free or donation-based 🧭 Combine both towns in one scenic day if you have a car — or stay overnight for a truly immersive experience

🏝️ Syracuse & Ortigia – Ancient Grandeur Meets Seaside Romance

📍 70 km from Catania | 🚆 1 hour by train | 🚗 ~1 hour by car

One of Sicily’s most culturally rich cities, Syracuse (Siracusa) was once one of the most powerful cities of the ancient Greek world. Today, it's a compelling blend of classical ruins, baroque piazzas, and maritime charm.

• Visit the Neapolis Archaeological Park, where you’ll find the majestic Greek Theatre, the mysterious Ear of Dionysius, and a Roman amphitheater.

• Cross the bridge to Ortigia Island, the historic heart of the city. Stroll its narrow streets, visit the stunning Cathedral of Syracuse (built atop a Greek temple), and relax at the Fountain of Arethusa, surrounded by papyrus plants.

🍽️ Stop for lunch or aperitivo at one of Ortigia’s many seafront restaurants. Seafood here is exceptional.

🎟️ Archaeological Park: ~€10, combo tickets available🕒 Allow a full day for this excursion to truly enjoy both sites

🌊 Taormina – The Jewel of the Ionian Coast

📍 55 km from Catania | 🚗 50 minutes | 🚆 Direct trains from Catania Centrale

Perched on a cliff above the sea, Taormina is a postcard-perfect town known for its romantic views, elegant boutiques, and ancient theatre.

• The Teatro Greco, with Etna and the sea as its backdrop, is one of the most dramatic performance spaces in the world.

• Wander the lively Corso Umberto, lined with artisan shops, gelaterie, and panoramic terraces

• Ride the cable car down to Isola Bella, a tiny island nature reserve nestled in a turquoise bay

🎟️ Greek Theatre: ~€12, discounts available 🕒 Best visited early morning or late afternoon to avoid crowds

🌿 Closing Tip: All these destinations are accessible as day trips from Catania, but each one also merits an overnight stay if you have more time. Renting a car gives you freedom, but trains and buses cover most major sites comfortably.

Wherever you go, you’ll find that Sicily’s magic lies not just in its monuments, but in the light, the flavors, and the stories that linger in every corner.

Let Catania be your base — and let the island surprise you.