15.12.2015 by Viktor Komlev

Guided tour of Catania

Catania is the black child of Etna!

Private walking tours in Catania

Any tourist will learn a lot of new things, in particular, he will receive comprehensive answers to the following questions:

• Where did the dwarf elephants, who lived in Catania from time immemorial, disappear?
• With what thorns is the path from the dwelling of the sinner to the altar of the holy martyr strewn?
• What does the Elephant Palace look like from the outside and from the inside?
• How did the granite Egyptian obelisk appear in Catania and subsequently become its sacred symbol?
• What role did the French play in the creation and strengthening of local mafia clans?
• Where to find traces of the ancient inhabitants of Sicily - the Cyclopes?
• Where to try the famous Sicilian sweets?
• What is a traditional dessert in Sicily, and why is it made in the shape of a woman's breast?
• How did a volcanic eruption save the island from sinking into the deep sea?
• Where is the oldest tarot deck kept?
• Who opened the first local university?
• Which Sicilian taverns (and other non-tourist places) to visit?
• What local wines are definitely worth trying?

All this can be learned during the walking tour led by a Russian guide. We will visit not only the most famous tourist attractions of Catania, but also for a deeper understanding of the local specifics, we will look into the hidden corners that do not fall into the field of view of official excursions, and we will try to unearth some of the secrets of the city covered with myths and legends.

The city that has risen from the ashes is what they call Catania, the administrative center of the province of the same name. This ancient settlement was founded by Greek colonists in the 8th century BC at the foot of the majestic Etna. And as you know, Etna is a volcano, and therefore Catania has repeatedly found itself in the grip of the fiery element.

Now Catania is a popular resort, a major port of Sicily. About 300 thousand people live here. However, here you will not notice the usual bustle and noise that are characteristic of large commercial or industrial cities. At the same time, in Catania there is no feeling of archaism and backwardness, as in a remote province.

Life here flows measuredly and unhurriedly. Wide central boulevards, always filled with leisurely strolling travelers, with numerous shops and cozy coffee houses, smoothly flow into winding alleys that meet sightseers with the muffled sound of the unique Sicilian dialect of the local population.

Sights of Catania

The sights of Catania are unique and stylistically diverse, which is why they are curious. Many buildings are objects of cultural heritage and are protected by UNESCO. Giovanni Battista Vacarini, chief architect of the city, is a worthy student and continuer of the traditions of the Roman school of urban planning. Therefore, despite the Greek origin of the city, the appearance of Catania is a vivid example of the original Italian style.

Catania is located in an earthquake-prone region, but, despite frequent tremors, the following are well preserved here:

ruins of ancient buildings

• Greco-Roman theater
• odeon
• amphitheater;

places of worship:

• 11th century cathedral
• Church of Francis of Assisi (the holy relics of Saint Eleanor of Sicily are buried here)
• Cathedral of Santo Carchere with the gloomy and frightening dungeons of the Inquisition.

In addition, they are very popular

• Ursino Castle, built in the 13th century
• Elephant Palace (Palazzo degli Elefanti)
• Garibaldi port gate
• Gate del Fortino
• Teatro Massimo Bellini
• Fish market (Pescheriadi Catania)
• Fountain of Proserpine
• Fountain dell'Elefante
• Fountain dell'Amenano.

All these sights, you can see during our tour of Catania. Duration sightseeing tour with a Russian guide 3 hours. Gatherings of tourist groups are organized in pre-arranged place V any convenient time.

How to find us

The tour is conducted by a Russian-speaking guide.

You can book a tour of Catania in the following ways:

1. By phone. In Russia: +7 987 790 3788.
2. Social network VKontakte. Our community:

It is convenient to use Catania as a starting point for traveling around Sicily. Many airlines fly here, as well as ferries and trains from the Italian mainland. However, tourists, as a rule, do not stay here for a long time, preferring to immediately go to the numerous Sicilian resorts. Nevertheless, in our opinion, Catania should not be ignored. The city itself is of considerable interest. In addition, based in Catania, you can visit many of the sights of Sicily. This way of organizing a trip is especially convenient for those traveling by public transport. But for those who prefer to travel by car, the ideas below may well come in handy, with the only difference being that in this case you can stay not in Catania itself, but somewhere in its immediate vicinity. As for Catania, in addition to an overview of the routes, we recommend that you read the article "Where is the best place to stay in Catania".

Let's move on to routes. So, where can you go from Catania for one day?

Etna(Etna) is the main visiting card of Sicily, and Catania is the best place to take a day trip to this still not extinct volcano. There are different options.

The simplest thing you can think of is a trip around Etna on the Circumetnea narrow-gauge railway (Ferrovia Circumetnea, see www.circumetnea.it), which, generally speaking, can be considered as a separate attraction (there are few similar roads in Italy). Of course, you cannot get to the top of the volcano in this way, but you will get a great opportunity to visit small, but very colorful towns and villages located on the slopes of Etna. The most famous of them is randazzo(Randazzo), a walk along which is worth taking a couple of hours. But there are others: Maletto (Maletto), Adrano (Adrano), Paterno (Paterno’) etc. There is something interesting in everyone (for example, Norman castles). Just keep in mind that trains run infrequently. If you do not gallop, then you can really visit a maximum of two or three towns in a day.

The Circumetnea railway station in Catania is combined with the Catania Borgo metro station and is located at some distance from the city center. You can get here by city buses (see www.amt.ct.it) or by metro (the only Catan metro line has 6 stations: Borgo - Giuffrida - Italia - Galatea - Stazione F.S. - Porto). By the way, you can return back to Catania not by Circumetnea, but by Trenitalia trains from the Giarre-Riposto station. This will make it faster and cheaper.

Another variant - climb directly to the craters of Etna . In this case, it is more convenient to travel by car, but public transport is also available. From Catania, Etna can be reached in two hours by AST bus (see the schedule on www.aziendasicilianatrasporti.it in the Linee e orari section; starting point is Catania, ending point is Etna). Buses leave from Piazza Papa Giovanni XXIII (opposite Catania Train Station) and go almost to the Funivia dell'Etna funicular station (see funiviaetna.com). There are various extensions possible. Perhaps the most interesting thing is to buy a guided tour and special equipment (this way you can go up to where everyone else is not allowed, but this pleasure is not cheap). The funicular will take you to a height of about 2500 m. Then - on special all-terrain buses, and then even higher - on foot. An alternative is to find a guide in Catania who will not only take you to the volcano, but also tell you a lot of interesting things (there are, for example, but you can search for others if you wish).

Taormina(Taormina)- one of the most beautiful cities in Sicily, and one of the most popular. There are many tourists here, especially during the summer holiday season, as many come here for the day from the nearby beach resorts. Nevertheless, despite the crowds (and the summer heat if you plan to go to Sicily in the summer), Taormina is worth a visit. The place is picturesque, and there are attractions: among them, the Greek theater with Etna as a backdrop stands out in particular. The neighboring village of Castelmola also deserves attention, climbing a high cliff with a beautiful view of Taormina (the background is the Ionian Sea).

It is worth paying attention to the Taormina beaches. First of all, this is the pebble beach of Isola Bella, which owes its name to a small island, which is so successfully moored here to the shore. Generally speaking, in Taormina it is quite possible to combine sightseeing with a beach holiday. In other words, if in Sicily you are primarily interested in the sea and beaches, and you consider trips to the surrounding area as an additional entertainment, then it makes sense to stay in Taormina instead of Catania. (Read about where it is better to live in Taormina.) There is one drawback: hotels here are much more expensive than in Catania. You can save money if you settle in the neighboring cities of Giardini Naxos and Letojanni. I must say that the beaches there are at least no worse than in Taormina itself: there are both pebbly and sandy ones.

You can get from Catania to Taormina by train. The ride is only 40-50 minutes. True, the Taormina-Giardini railway station (common for Taormina and Giardini Naxos) is located at some distance from the city center, at the foot of a cliff. Upon arrival, you will either have to take a bus or take a taxi (walking is long and inconvenient). But buses from Catania (see www.etnatrasporti.it) arrive directly in the center of Taormina, but the journey is a little longer: about 1 hour 10 minutes.

Acireale(Acireale)- Another seaside resort town. It is unlikely that it surpasses Taormina in any way, but it is also interesting to walk around the historical center of Acireale. The most popular among tourists are the Cathedral of Acireale, reminiscent of a castle with its bell towers, and the adjacent Cathedral Square (Piazza del Duomo), as well as the Basilica of St. Peter and Paul, facing the same square. There are other churches here, as well as several museums. In a word, there are quite enough sights for a trip of several hours.

From Catania to Acireale, you can take the Trenitalia train in just 10-15 minutes. True, then you will have to walk to the city center for 20-30 minutes along not too picturesque streets. If you go by bus, the journey will take about 50 minutes (see www.etnatrasporti.it and www.aziendasicilianatrasporti.it), but this way you can get directly to the Cathedral Square.

A trip to Acireale, if desired, can be supplemented with a visit to the town Achikastello(Acicastello). It is best known for its Norman castle, which rises on a rock that cuts into the sea. It is convenient to get here by bus: from Acireale to Achikastello 20 minutes drive, and from Catania - 30 minutes (see www.aziendasicilianatrasporti.it). There is also an AMT bus (Linea 534, see www.amt.ct.it) between Catania and Achikastello.

syracuse(Siracusa), as it is customary to say in such cases, is a city that must be visited. You can get here from Catania by rail in a little over an hour. At the same time, the Syracuse railway station is located within walking distance from all major attractions. Among them, I must say, a lot of interesting things. This is the archaeological park of Neapolis (here, in particular, you can see the impressive Greek theater), and the early Christian catacombs of San Giovanni, and especially Ortigia (Ortigia) - a small island connected to the mainland by two bridges (the place itself is extremely colorful and there are many attractions ). In general, it makes sense to stay in Syracuse for a few days (more on this), especially since this city is convenient to use as a base for trips to the so-called Baroque cities of the Val di Noto valley: Noto, Scicli, Modica, Ragusa etc. (However, if you want to visit all these cities, then ideally you should stay in one of them, for example, in Modica). But even in the format of a one-day excursion in Syracuse, you can see a lot. Just decide in advance what exactly interests you, because it is hardly possible to do everything at once.

Caltagirone(Caltagirone), like the aforementioned Noto, Scicli, Modica and Ragusa, as well as Palazzolo Acreide, Militello in Val di Catania and Catania itself, is included in the list of Sicilian Baroque cities included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. All of them were actually rebuilt (in the late Baroque style, which is why they are called "Baroque") after the devastating earthquake of 1693. All of them deserve attention in one way or another. However, if we talk about one-day trips from Catania, then it is most convenient to get out either in Caltagirone or in Militello(Militello in Val di Catania). Caltagirone, whose main attraction is a staircase decorated with multi-colored majolica, in our opinion, is more interesting. But theoretically, it is possible to make a route in such a way as to combine visits to both of these cities within one trip.

As for transport, from Catania to Caltagirone can be reached by rail. But electric trains rarely run in this direction, and it takes almost two hours (Militello, by the way, is located on the same railway line an hour from Catania). Therefore, it makes sense to pay attention to buses (see www.etnatrasporti.it): they run more often and travel surprisingly faster - about an hour and a half to Caltagirone (a little more than an hour to Militello).

All the largest and busiest cities in Sicily are located on the coast. It would seem that, Enna(Enna), located almost in the center of the island, wilderness, and there is nothing for a tourist to do here. But! Firstly, from here - from a height of more than 900 meters above sea level - dizzying views of the surroundings open up. Secondly, there are at least two interesting sights in Enna: the Castello di Lombardia fortress, from where the best panoramic views open, and the Duomo, whose interior decoration can surprise even seasoned travelers. In short, Enna is a great destination for a half-day trip.

It is better to go to Enna by car, although you can also get there by public transport. Moreover, at first glance it seems that it is not at all difficult if you resort to the services of railways. Enna is halfway between Catania and Palermo. From Catania to go no more than an hour and a half. But not everything is so simple. The railway station is located about 5 km from the center of Enna (Enna Alta). You can cover this distance by local bus (see www.saisautolinee.it), but they run infrequently, which is very inconvenient. Walking - uphill and for the most part along a picturesque, but completely unsuitable for pedestrians road - is also difficult. Fortunately, a bus service is organized between Enna and Catania (see Enna - Outlet Dittaino - Catania route, about an hour and a half to go). By bus you can get directly to the upper (old) part of Enna.

When choosing a hotel or apartment in Italy in general and in Catania in particular, use not only booking sites, but also price comparison services. We recommend Roomguru.ru.

The same should be done when searching for air tickets. Pay attention, for example, to Skyscanner.ru.

Near Catania there are a lot of interesting places to see. You can get to them on a budget in two ways - a regional train that goes from the central station of Catania and which is a 15-minute walk from Cathedral Square - the historical center of Catania). There are no problems here, everything is as usual: you can buy a ticket at the box office, or in a machine (I even bought it in a machine without knowing Italian - everything is logical and simple there). We buy a ticket and do not forget to punch it in a special machine, which is at every station.

By train, you can reach the cities of Messina, Taormina-Giardini Naxos, Aci Reale, Syracuse, Palermo, Enna and others without a change.

The railway station (Catania Centrale) in front of it is the round square Piazza Papa Giovanni, on which there are many bus stops - in the photo.

With buses, the situation is more complicated - there are several bus companies in Sicily that have different stops and ticket offices. In general, a rather complicated and stupid system, especially in Catania (another important point - you can’t buy a bus ticket in advance - you can buy it only on the day of departure and there are difficulties if you have to leave early in the morning).

Let's figure it out.

Like such a bus station in Catania (in our understanding there is none) - you need to know where the stops are.

I'll start from the railway station. So we left the station and stand with our backs to it. In front of us will be the station square. Immediately at the exit from the station on the square there will be a taxi rank (on the left) and immediately parking lots of city buses. From the same stop you can go to the airport by bus.

In the distance on the left we see two high-rise buildings in the photo - we need the left one, it will have a cash desk

We go to this high-rise building - in the lower photo it is on the left.

Offices on the ground floor of a high-rise building - there is a ticket office for buses

Bus ticket office - but only for AST - at this ticket office you can buy a ticket for the bus to Etna volcano, the bus to the airport, and the bus to Aci Trezza. On the bottom photo is the cashier's office.

Where is the AST bus stop - we return to the round station square

there will be AST stops at the farthest end of the square from the train station, with the exception of the bus to the airport.

There will be signs with numbers and cities on the platform - on the first one, in the photo, for example, Aci Reale is indicated (I left for Aci Trezza from it).

On the platform next to it is a bus to Mount Etna (pictured).

Now let's return to those two high-rise buildings on the left side of the railway. station

They stand on viale della Liberta, which starts from the station square (in the photo, this street is near two high-rise buildings).

We go along it for 3 minutes and in the next block there will be a long fence on the left side.

It is behind this fence that the bus station (bus station) of Catania is located - you won’t think of it right away.

We reach the first intersection along the fence and turn left

There is also a fence here, but there is already a passage for passengers and buses (pictured)

We go inside - this is the bus station - from here we leave on all other buses to cities such as Enna, Taormina, Syracuse, Palermo and others. Cities and timetables are indicated on the platform number.

But again, there is a problem - there are no ticket offices at the bus station. Without a ticket, they may not land. To Taormina - it was early in the morning - the driver sold me a ticket on the bus and the ticket office was still closed, since it was Sunday. But on the Sais bus, this no longer works and only at the box office. There are no toilets at this station either.

So, we begin a detailed study of the routes of independent excursions around the island of Sicily.

In this article you will learn:

• why when traveling to Palermo it is very important to study the transport component of the trip;
• which is faster - train or bus;
• How long is the staircase from Taormina to Castelmola.

In general, the article provides the main technical details of the trips. And artistic impressions are after returning.

Excursion to Palermo

So, an independent trip to Palermo. Estimated difficulty level 4 out of 5 possible. Estimated duration is from early morning to late evening.

The road is long, so you need to leave early. Let's even sacrifice breakfast. A look at the bus schedules showed that bus companies still make sure that tourists do not go on a trip on an empty stomach, so routes do not start very early. In our case, the first bus through Recanati to Catania passes at 6:55 (6.9 euros round trip). Breakfast at the hotel starts at 7:00, but, as they say, a “cut down” breakfast (in terms of assortment) can be “consumed” at 6:00. In general, the breakfast is saved!

At 7:45 the bus arrives at the bus station in Catania. The next bus to Palermo is at 8:30. Let's dispel another established opinion on the Internet. The bus from Catania to Palermo does not take 2.5 hours, but 3 hours 10 minutes. So we will be in Palermo at 11:40.

Sightseeing buses in Palermo

There are at least two options for getting around Palermo:

• on SightSeeing sightseeing buses;
• on foot and by public transport.

The first option is very good, especially with poor orientation in the city. There are two routes - red (1 hour on the way) and blue (1 hour on the way). The cost of a ticket for a day is 20 euros. You can get off and on at any of the stops designated for these routes. There is even an opportunity to transfer on the red route to the bus that will take you to Montreal (all organized excursions are brought to this place to see the cathedral) and back. This bus runs once an hour.

Some of the disadvantages of this option include the need to adapt to the arrival of regular buses. At the same time, due to traffic jams in the city, such buses can be very out of the schedule of their movement. It can ruin all plans.

However, more information (details can be found online). Red buses run every half an hour during the season, blue buses run from 40 minutes to an hour (there is a schedule) and only after 14:00. Well, that's all about it. By the way. The bus station is located next to stop number 6 of line A (red).

Palermo tour plan

Now our plans. Take your time to walk around the city center and the main attractions. We will definitely not have time to cover everything, but no matter how such a goal was originally set. Let's see the main ones from the list in the article. Maybe we'll even make it to Montreal. And we will have six hours for everything about everything.

The main streets of Palermo are VIA MAQUEDA and CORSO VITTORIO EMANUELE, and we spin around them. So. Suggested itinerary for Palermo:

1. Bus station (information office)
2. We go out to one of the main streets VIA MAQUEDA and follow it towards the center
3. Sights of PIAZZA BELLINI and PIAZZA PRETOPIA squares
4. Square Quattro Canti
5. Teatro Massimo
6. Politeama Theater (information office)
7. Transition to VIA ROMA street and along it towards the center
8. Vichchuria market, if you have time to walk to the bay
9. Go out to CORSO VITTORIO EMANUELE street and follow it to the center
10. Cathedral
11. PIAZZA DELLA VITTORIA
12. New gates
13. Norman Palace - Palatine Chapel
14. By bus in Montreal (8 km), visiting the cathedral
15. By bus to Palermo
16. Bus station.

The route of movement is presented on the map, which is taken from the guide to Sicily from the series "Guides of Thomas Cook". As, however, and all other cards given in this article.

In reserve, there are additional places to visit in the LA KALSA quarter, but we are unlikely to have time and want to visit them, since the route is already busy.

You need to go back at 16:30 or at 18:30 (here the bus at 17:30 would come in handy, but alas). The last bus is very risky. He arrives in Catania at 21:40, and at 22:00 the last bus leaves for Taormina, which is not very pleasant in case of some kind of delay on the way. So far this is the schedule.

Rail connection to Palermo

At some point, the train schedule caught my eye. The newly discovered details about trains give reason to visit Palermo at a more convenient time and without the risk of spending the night somewhere at the station. For example, you can try from Taormina at 6:08 (6:47 (#3865 arr. Catania) - 7:38 (#3803 arr. Catania) - 10:29 (arr. Palermo)). From Palermo at 17:36 (20:25 Catania arrival, 20:46 (No. 12886 Catania) – 21:34 (Taormina arrival)). The use of the first train is doubtful, since you need something to get to Taormina in the morning. But the second one can be very useful. By the way, the price of a train ticket from Palermo to Catania is 12.5 euros.

Another misconception is that the train journey from Palermo to Catania takes 3 to 6 hours. From here you can kind of understand that the average travel time is 4.5 hours, which is somewhat strange given that the bus covers this distance in 3 hours and 10 minutes.

So. The data on trains given on the Internet is somewhat inaccurate. If you look at the schedule, you can see that all regional trains cover a given distance in 2:50 - 2:55, i.e. in some cases half a head faster than the bus, which, in principle, is understandable, since the stations and bus stations are located nearby, but there are fewer traffic jams on the rails (in the figurative sense of the word). Of course, we should say goodbye to the benefit of buying a round-trip ticket, but we will remember this option.

By the way, while fiddling with the train schedule, I noticed that the train from Catania to Taormina goes somewhat faster than the bus (train - 35-50 minutes, bus - 1 hour 10 minutes) and a train ticket costs a little cheaper, at least one way ( train - 3.95 euros, bus - 5.1 euros). Although, even if there are no discounts on the train when buying a two-way ticket, it is still more profitable to travel by train, since the round-trip train costs 7.9 euros, and the bus costs 8.5 euros. This is not very important for us, since there is no railway station very close to Recanati, but maybe it will come in handy for someone based in Taormina. However, it must be borne in mind that the frequency of train traffic is two times less than that of buses.

Excursion to Syracuse

Estimated difficulty level 3 out of 5 possible. Estimated duration is a full day. Estimated costs per person: 16.5 euros for travel and 8 euros for a ticket to Neopolis.

Another inaccuracy from the Internet. Allegedly, from Syracuse, buses leave only before lunch. The schedule of the bus company does not confirm this.

You can take your time in the morning to have a normal breakfast. From Recanati we leave at 8:10 (6.9 euros round trip). We will be in Catania at 9:00. Bus to Syracuse at 9:30. In Syracuse at 10:55.

You can also take the train (8 euros), but the first line goes very early (at 6:08 from Alcantara), and the next one (already with a transfer) is too late (at 10:23).

Tour plan for Syracuse

1. From the bus station via Marconi Square to Orthridge Island
2. Umbertino Bridge
3. Temple of Apollo
4. Archimedes Square (next to the information office)
5. Cathedral Square (Syracuse Dome)
6. Spring of Areguza
7. Church of Santa Lucia
8. Bellomo Palace
9. Castello Maniace
10. Return to Piazza Marconi, crossing to Neapolis Park
11. Roman amphitheater
12. Altar of Hieron II (next to the Museum-Park of Archimedes - a remake, 4 euros)
13. Greek theater
14. Quarry
15. Cave "Ear of Dionysius"
16. Catacombs of San Giovanni (4 euros)
17. Archaeological Museum (8 euros)
18. Church of the Madonna delle Lacrime
19. Return to the bus station.

Back at 16:00 (17:00). In Catania at 17:25 (18:25). From Catania at 17:30 (18:30).

If you need to swim in the evening and do not feel sorry for a full breakfast, then you can in the morning and an hour earlier.

Excursion to Taormina

Estimated difficulty level 1 out of 5 possible. Estimated duration - part of the day (you can visit twice - in the historical and modern parts). Estimated cost per person: 3 euros per journey.

Schedule of morning buses. From Recanati at 8:15 (8:30, 8:45). In Taormina at 8:40 (8:55, 9:10).

The preparation of this trip did not take very long, since the sights are listed and located compactly in one place. Sample plan:

1. From the bus station to the Greek theater (photo with a view of Etna)
2. Palace of Corvaia (information office)
3. To the northeast Church of St. Pankratius (photo)
4. Church of Santa Caterina
5. Duchi di Cesaro Park
6. We leave on Corso Umberto. Ruins of Naumachia
7. Nove Aprile Square. Church of San Giuseppe in Taormina
8. Cathedral Square. Dome Cathedral of St. Nicholas (should be visible to the north of Badia Vecchia on the slope, even north of the Ruins of the Arab castle)
9. San Domenico Palace
10. Bus station.

If desired, you can take a bus to Castelmola. There are few sights there, to say the least. Castelmola is located above Taormina. They advertise beautiful views. The bus runs every hour. Or, as they say, "2 km down the stairs."

Between the bus station and the Church of St. Pancras there is an upper cable car station

Back at 14:00-15:00.

Here is some more interesting information. In one of the reviews, I accidentally found a mention of sightseeing tours of the Hop On Hop Off program. As I understand it, this is something like a competing company in relation to the common SightSeeing double-decker buses. Or maybe it's the same thing. Two sightseeing routes start near the Recanati bus terminal. 10 euros each. Some of them run through Taormina and Castelmola. You can use.

The next article will focus on pre-preparation for the remaining trips in Sicily. Actually, this will be the last article about preparing for the holidays.

It remains one of the most popular cities among tourists. Today we will tell you about the most interesting sights of Catania, which you should definitely add to your travel itinerary while traveling to Sicily. So what to see in Catania? Let's get a look!

What to see in Catania. Table of contents

Central Cathedral Square

One of the most important, important and interesting places in modern Catania is Cathedral Square, the name of which in the original sounds like Piazza del Duomo. It can be said that here and stormy life cities. For centuries, Cathedral Square has been gathering local residents and guests of the city. Today, she is symbol of Catania and the custodian of the ancient traditions of the townspeople.

But, in addition to important historical significance, Catania Cathedral Square is an architectural masterpiece, built by a great master Giovanni Battista Vaccarini who was born and made famous in Sicily.

The main memorial places of the square: Porta Ujoda- the city gates, erected in 1696, Cathedral, erected in 1739, the church Badia di Sant'Agata, founded in 1767, as well as the famous " Elephant Fountain» and the main city hall, built in the first half of the eighteenth century. All these unique buildings are the work of the master Vaccarini.

If you want to see all the beauty of Catania Cathedral Square, then go there at night. Every building that has stood here for centuries is painted bright colors thanks to backlight.

Flights and accommodation in Catania

There are a lot of hotels and all kinds of guest houses in Catania. We recommend staying closer to the historical center of the city so that you can see the sights of Catania on foot. And in order to easily pick up desired options tickets And housing, we suggest using the search from Aviasales&Hotelook. This search service allows you to find the best options among all verified agencies for the sale of air tickets and hotel rooms.

We continue the story on the topic ""!

Cathedral in the main square of Catania

Undoubtedly, one of the main decorations not only of Cathedral Square, but of the whole city, remains Cathedral of Saint Agatha- patrons and defenders Catania. In the cathedral to this day lie the relics of the martyr.

The front of the building is richly decorated with marble slabs and flaunts many beautiful statues, each of which contributes to the protection of Catania from wrath. This belief in protection has been common since 1169 when Etna first began to erupt and destroyed the city's first cathedral. After, five hundred years later, a terrible thing happened again - the cathedral collapsed and left under the rubble more than seven thousand people who at that moment were in religious service. Today, the Cathedral still stands in the center of Catania - the current building was erected at the beginning sixteenth century.

At the main entrance to the cathedral you will see three dozen boards, on each of which you can see different scenes that tell the life of St. Agatha. All of them are assembled into a complete story that tells everything important about the patroness of the city.

Inside the temple are the graves of prominent people: Vincenzo Bellini, cardinal Dusmet, as well as members of the royal families who once ruled the city and the entire Sicilian kingdom during its heyday. In general, the cathedral is a magnificent landmark of Catania.

"Elephant Fountain"

Everyone knows about the main symbol of Catania - " Elephant Fountain". It's incredible sculptural ensemble, created from blocks black frozen lava, above which rises a majestic obelisk, once brought from Egypt. At its top are a cross, a palm branch and a lily flower, which for many years have been considered the main symbols of the Great Martyr Agatha, who protects the city. The "Elephant Fountain" in Catania was installed in the middle of the eighteenth century. According to legend, a magician lived in Catania Giliodorus who could turn ordinary people into beasts. Someone says that it was he who created the elephant back in the eighth century in order to revive it and go on a journey to the city of kings and the capital of the Byzantine Empire - Constantinople.

Others retell the legend differently, assuring that the sorcerer himself could turn into animals and often frightened the local people with this. Now, any elephant statues in Sicily, created from black lava stone, are called Lyotrou- this name appeared due to the simplification of the name of a powerful magician Heliodorus. It is believed that such sculptures can calm even if he intends to destroy everything around.

At all, Catania is closely associated with elephants, although at first this statement seems devoid of logic. However, even during the reign of Sicily Arab emirs, the name of Catania was translated as " Elephant City". Someone claims that Arabs often organized a hunt in the vicinity of the city riding on elephants. Apparently, it was the people from the East who brought these giant land animals to the island, but today archaeologists assure that used to live in Sicily and its unique species of elephants, however, in comparison with their African brothers, they were completely dwarf.

After Sicily became a Christian kingdom, the face became a symbol Saint George, but in the eighteenth century, the townspeople and local authorities decided to return to the traditional symbols of the city. In particular, it was about the return of the status elephant city symbol. The idea took root, and today there are even elephants on Coat of arms of Catania, not to mention the various signs of city institutions and sports clubs.

Church of St. Nicholas

Not far from the square Dante you will find Church of St. Nicholas- a very unusual temple, which deservedly bears the title of the largest religious building on the entire island. The first services in the church began at the end seventeenth century, but they did not manage to complete the temple, and six years later it was almost completely destroyed by an earthquake. Today, the Church of St. Nicholas in Catania is famous for its colonnade, which was abandoned by the first builders and is of little use today. But it is she who, along with a beautiful facade, is the main “highlight” of the temple, which inside, by the way, looks incredible. Therefore, the church is one of the most interesting sights of Catania.

Next to the church you will find the Monastery of St. Nicholas. It is known for its size - the second largest among all European medieval monasteries, and a large old library, which contains about two hundred of the rarest manuscripts from different eras.

Church of San Giuliano

Another beautiful temple of Catania, which is impossible to pass by while traveling to Sicily - Church of San Giuliano. She was built two and a half centuries back and still does not cease to amaze everyone with his unusual facade, which is different unique curve. Right at the gates of the church are being conducted archaeological excavations where scientists found the great road of the ancient Romans who ruled Sicily for a long time.

Church of San Placido

Almost immediately behind the Cathedral you can see Church of San Placido- another attraction of Catania, whose fate is closely connected with. It was after the strongest of them, which occurred at the very end of the seventeenth century, that the Church of San Placido was rebuilt on the site of a destroyed Christian church.

The church building is able to impress anyone with its unusual beautiful facade, made in the style baroque. The chief architect who worked on the design and construction of the Church of San Placido - Stefano Ittar, who also managed to participate in the work on well-known Gates of Garibaldi.

Church of the Imprisonment of Saint Agatha

Another temple, the name of which was given by the patroness of Catania. Just a few dozen meters from the amphitheater is the Church of the Imprisonment of St. Agatha. Today the church is located in the prison building.

At one time, it was in this place that Saint Agatha was imprisoned before she was killed.

A lot of monuments left behind the great Byzantine Empire, however, in Sicily, due to frequent earthquakes, there are not so many of them left. One of such outstanding historical and architectural monuments can be considered Bonyuto Chapel, which is built in the shape of a cross.

Back in the middle of the fifteenth century, this chapel was in the possession of an influential family Bonyuto. Today the building of the chapel restored and quite often serves as a venue for important activities.

collegiate basilica

If you want to know what is Sicilian baroque then you should definitely see Collegiate Basilica in Catania.

The facade impresses with its beauty. The first row of columns is crowned with a luxurious balustrade, on the second level there is a large window in the very center, well, and the third row of columns ends with four sculptures of Christian figures canonized as saints - Petra, Paul, Apollonia and, of course, the Great Martyr Agates who patronizes Catania.

At the very top is Bell tower and beautiful inside frescoes, showing all parishioners the lives of various Christian saints and important religious scenes with the participation of the Virgin Mary.

Church of San Benedetto

Despite the fact that Catania is famous for its large number of medieval temples, churches and monasteries, the Church of San Benedetto remains one of the the most important Christian buildings in the city. Temple built over ten years, beginning with 1704 of the year. For a long time it was the residence Orders of the Benedictines.

The design of the building is pure Sicilian Baroque. All stairs, columns, balustrades admire people who look at them for the first time. Under the vault of the church you can see the unique painting "Glory of St. Benedict", which was created by the master Giovanni Tuccari in the middle of the eighteenth century. This attraction in Catania is worth a visit!

Local legends say that from the Church of San Benedicto you can along the secret path get to Monastery of Saint Nicholas also belonged to the Benedictines. The stories are different, and some claim that with the help of a secret underground tunnel, the monks organized forbidden dates with the nuns.

Monastery of the Benedictines

Of course, it is worth paying attention to monastery. It is located on the street Via Crociferi and is now protected by UNESCO. The construction of the monastery building dates back to 1355, however, like many other historical monuments of Catania, it had to be restored in the eighteenth century.

Every tourist arriving in Catania should see this monastery, thanks to its unique arch, which has become one of the symbols of the city. Local legends say that the monks managed to build the monastery by working just one night. Well, today it houses the main Sicilian museum, which has several large galleries with works of modern art.

However, the Benedictine Monastery itself is a unique attraction. Here you can spend the whole day embarking on an unforgettable historical journey.

You will have the opportunity to see the Roman domus, excavated by archaeologists under the monastery, ancient premises, restored to its original appearance, C Church of Saint Benedict, which is part of the monastery complex, and also complete your short tour in one of the galleries of the museum. A journey into the world of art is worth everything 5 euro from a person. You will also be offered a guide service. The complex is open on weekends and Fridays from ten in the morning to seven in the evening.

Arch of Saint Benedict

This arch is known throughout Europe and is considered important architectural monument Sicily. The Benedictines managed to build it all in just one night but that's only if you believe their own old legend. The arch was erected in honor of the fact that the monks refused to obey the vagaries of nature, and declared war on destructive earthquakes. The arch is located right next to the Church of St. Benedict, which we already wrote about in this article a little higher.

Theaters of Ancient Rome

The Roman Empire left behind many traces in Sicily, especially in, whose history dates back tens of centuries. Therefore, it is here that you can find several preserved Roman theaters at once.

The largest theater is the one located on the modern street of Catania Vittorio Emanuele II. Once it could accommodate almost seven thousand people who came to the arena in order to enjoy various theatrical, and not always harmless, spectacles. A little further is the theater, where they could sit one thousand three hundred people.

Roman theater and Odeon

To see the famous Odeon you have to go to old center of Catania, once former forum an ancient Roman city called Katana. As usual, the city center was located on a high hill, where several important religious and public buildings were erected. Initially there is ancient greek acropolis, however, later, when the Romans came to the city, they built their own in its place Odeon. Unfortunately, it is no longer possible to see all the beauty of the Odeon from the side - there are many modern buildings around that cover it. But, if you know where to go, then you will certainly be able to find the Odeon - one of the most impressive ancient Roman buildings in Catania.

The Roman theater, located nearby, once could accommodate up to seven thousand people, and the diameter of its arena reached one hundred meters. Some elements of the building are made of volcanic rock, which makes this theater unique in its own way.

Fortress Ursino

Sicily lived stormily and in times Middle Ages when the whole island was built up big fortresses, capable of withstanding the fierce assaults of enemies. One of the darkest and most interesting medieval castles in Catania can be considered Fortress Ursino, which was erected in thirteenth century on the coastal cliff.

IN In 1669 Mount Etna again destroyed many buildings of Catania and severely damaged the fortifications of the fortress. Nearly thirty years later, the strongest earthquake took the sea away from the castle. Today Fortress Ursino stands right in the middle of the city surrounded by ordinary residential areas. At the same time, part of the fortifications today, although intact, but buried under cooled lava flows.

In the building of the fortress you can visit a large archaeological And historical museum Catania.

Walls of Charles V

Another important historical landmark of Catania who once protected the city from enemies - network of fortifications of Charles V, which included large walls, eleven small fortresses And seven protective gate. The wall was built sixteenth century, but during the period of the strongest Sicilian eruptions and earthquakes in the seventeenth century was badly damaged. Already in the eighteenth century, when the city was rebuilt on a large scale, all the protective functions of the walls were lost. Today there is only small piece of wall and scattered parts of the once powerful bastions. However, they are worth seeing.

The symbol of the city and a majestic monument, an interesting landmark of Sicily. Gates were erected eighteenth century in honor of the royal family. The gates are made of volcanic stones and snow-white limestone. Above you can see royal coat of arms and huge size watch. On the gate itself there is an inscription that reads - " Rising from the ashes, I become even more beautiful».

Amenano Fountain

ancient greek colonists founded Catania on the banks of the river Amenano, which today only reminds fountain of the same name, erected in marble in the middle of the nineteenth century. The river has become underground, but the systemic waters of the fountain still continue to feed it.

Just two hundred meters from the main square of Catania is the famous, built in eighteenth century. Beautiful courtyard with a unique fountain Neptune attract thousands of tourists every year. From here you can get to the interesting Toy Museum.

Residence of members of an influential the Biscari family was erected at the end seventeenth century right next to one of the surviving parts Protective city wall of Catania. For a hundred years, the building of the palace continued to be completed and improved until it looked like what we can see today. On the roof is a compact dome, the shape of the palace stretched out, and inside there is a luxurious courtyard with gardens. Almost all the interior decoration of the Biscari Palace was once taken to the main museum of the city, but even today there is something to see here. Particularly impressive domestic premises palace, where all the rooms are decorated differently, each in their own style and with its unique interior design, different from others.

If you have already arrived in Catania, then in no case do not miss the opportunity to visit the famous fish market — A Piscaria. As usual in the markets, endless bustle and noise reigns here. This is a unique world that reflects the essence of the life of the Sicilians. And this is one of the most memorable and interesting places on the whole island.

Every morning merchants line up with freshly caught fish. You can buy here literally everything that the waters of the Mediterranean are famous for, from giant sharks, before lobster, which are distinguished by their huge dangerous claws. Sea stars, mussels, sea ​​urchins, dozens of species shrimp- all this you will find at the Fish Market in Catania. The main thing you need to take here with you besides money is camera.

The theater was built in Catania at the end nineteenth century. Inside the theater today is museum, where there are a lot of things telling about the life of the great composer Vincenzo Bellini whose name the theater bears. In addition to the theatre, there is also museum great composer. Every Wednesday, Friday And Saturday you have the opportunity to get excursion in the museum, the cost of which is only five euro from a person.

The theater itself accommodates 1200 spectators. The hall is beautiful and luxurious. There are beautiful paintings on the ceilings. Ernesto Bellandi– the artist depicted scenes from the most popular Italian operas.

In the very center of the main hall of the theater there is a sculpture Vincenzo Bellini made of bronze.

The cost of visiting the theater five euro, and a ticket for an opera or any other performance - three euros.

Coast of the Cyclopes

The last sight of Catania today, which we will tell you about, will be Coast of the Cyclopes, entwined with secrets, ancient legends and myths.

Almost the entire coast of Sicily in the East was of great cultural and historical significance for the ancient Greeks, who landed here for the first time on the island. That is why, if you need interesting legends about Catania and Sicily, then you should go here.

What is the Cyclops Coast? This is a whole part of the coast of Sicily, which can be found near the settlement Achi Trezza. Everything there is strewn with huge stones - the Islands of the Cyclopes.

For the first time about the Coast of the Cyclopes became known after the myth of Odyssey. Homer told in his poems that it was here that he lived Polyphemus- one-eyed huge cyclops, legitimate son Poseidon- Ruler of all seas. Polyphemus did not like the fact that mortals ended up on his territory and he captured Odysseus and his travelers, who were returning from the legendary Trojan War. Cyclops immediately swallowed six sailors, and prepared to kill the rest a little later. But Odysseus managed to blind the giant with the help of courage and cunning. Polyphemus, in a fit of anger and hellish pain due to a burnt eye, began to grab blocks of stone and throw them towards Odysseus's ship. But the hero, nevertheless, managed to escape, and the stones scattered by the angry cyclops remained lying near the shore. They also gave the name to the coast, which today everyone knows as the Cyclops Coast.

All sights of Catania

Thus, going to Sicily to the city of Catania, you will be able to find places that have kept the history and culture of the entire island for thousands of years. From the most ancient settlements of people, to the luxurious buildings of the last centuries, from the majestic Greek and Roman temples, to powerful fortresses and walls. All this is in Catania, which means that having been here, you will learn a lot of new things and be able to see a lot of unique monuments, which have no equal anywhere else!

Excursions in Catania

Map of the city of Catania with attractions.

Well, for those who like to explore the city on their own, we have prepared a surprise - an interactive map of the sights of the city of Catania. Happy using! Let's tell you one more secret: every 30 minutes a tour bus departs from the central square of the city, where you can explore the city. At any stop, you can get off, walk in the place you like, and then network to the next bus. Tickets are valid all day long!