VENUE > Tourist Attractions

Who says Sicily, says Catania! A trip that will please as many people as possible. Although there are numerous visits, some stand out from the crowd. This is a selection:

• Piazza del Duomo: the astonishing Elephant Fountain, called U Liotru in Sicilian dialect, captures the attention of all walkers! Very lively in the evening, the square is in a way the agora of the city. It is also the arrival point for those who take Via Etnea at the blessed hour of the passeggiata. Of course, we find the duomo in this square, in baroque style. Built in the 11th century by the Normans of Roger I to honor Saint Agatha, patroness of the city, the cathedral was remodeled several times, notably after the earthquake of 1693. It is adorned with a majestic Borrominian style facade, the work of by Vaccarini. Inside, the 3 naves with massive pillars are from the Norman period, all lit by an elegant dome. Just to the right of the duomo portal, a small staircase leads to the Achilliane thermal baths;
• Palazzo Biscari: it is the most beautiful civil building in the city! Ruggero Moncada, the owner, heir to the great family that built the palace, has a real passion for the place and himself comments on the visits which last between 20 minutes and 1 hour depending on your interest and his desire to help you discover this gem! It is an 18th century setting which, once upon a time, was located right by the sea. Hence the magnificent elaborate staircase in the shape of a wave, in pure rococo style, and this astonishing facade – on the sea side – flanked by statues and other sculptures full of symbols... The visit passes through the ballroom, all in gilding and volutes, arabesques and illuminations!
• Piazza della Università: we first discover the palazzo della Università, current seat of the rectorate, with its beautiful facade on which the inscription “Siculorum Gymnasium” is engraved. Inside, the charming patio is the work of Vaccarini, built in 1730: surrounded by harmonious arcades, a superb ornate pavement alternates white stone and black lava pebbles... Just opposite, the Palazzo San Giuliano, with its facade inscription “Università degli Studi”, was built by the tireless Vaccarini, with a more sober but green patio... A little higher, the collegiata S. Maria dell'Elemosina shows a majestic concave facade. It was rebuilt after the earthquake of 1693, with a devilishly baroque interior;
• Castello Ursino – Museo civico: originally, the waves washed the sides of this austere military structure commissioned in the 13th century by Frederick II of Swabia. But the overflows of Etna decided otherwise and the lava flows of 1669 permanently moved the fortress away from the sea. Quadrangular in plan and surrounded by a moat, its defensive function is obvious. Successively palace, prison and barracks, it now houses the Museo civico, which notably brings together the collection of the Benedictines, coming from their monastery after it was seized at the time of Italian unity...
• The fish market: it is the largest, most beautiful and certainly the most authentic fish market in Sicily! It is as if a giant tide had entered the city to deposit on the shelves of fishmongers and fishmongers everything that the sea cultivates in secret. In a mess worthy of Fellini's most beautiful films, we harangue, we shout at each other, we insult each other! Here a stall full to the brim with mussels and cockles, there a swordfish points its nose towards the sky, further away a bluefin tuna finishes bloodying the street. The tourists mixed with the locals take it all in their faces and nostrils!
• Monastero dei Benedettini: built in the 16th century and rebuilt in the 18th century, this 2nd largest monastery in Europe by size now houses part of the University of Catania, human sciences section. First, you enter from Piazza Dante, right next to Chiesa San Nicolò L’Arena. Note the grandiloquence of the facade, with its diamond-point balèvres, its fruits, its mascarons, the work of the inventive Antonio Amato (17th century)...

To help you enjoy the city, this is a tourism map :

Tourism City Map

For more information, check the Catania Tourism office website below:

https://turismo.comune.catania.it/en/discover-catania/default.aspx