Attractions skating. Bus station in Catania - parking lots for buses of various companies and their ticket offices Church of the Conclusion of St. Agatha

All popular excursions are collected in one place. Below is a list of the best excursions in and around the city that will allow you to get to know the city and see all the unique sights.

We offer a variety of excursions to choose from. Bus and walking tours, for the whole day or for several hours, in the fresh air or with a visit to museums excursions around.

"Classic excursion to Etna"

Classic excursion to Etna.

Mount Etna is one of the must-see places in Sicily. We offer you the most popular excursion to Etna. It includes a guided ascent to a height of 2000m (southern slope). During the ascent, the guide will tell you about the origin of the volcano, the stories associated with it. Further on funiculars and jeeps you can climb to the top (3000m). The climb to the top is carried out without a guide. There you will see the upper part of the volcano, the craters, you will see a magnificent panorama. You can buy souvenirs, have lunch on the volcano and come back. In time, such an excursion lasts from 3 to 5 hours.

"Organization of tours and excursions in all cities of Italy!!!"

Organization of tours and excursions in all cities of Italy!!!. For us, organizing a tour is an art, not just a job. Every detail of the tour is carefully designed. Clients are provided with individual support and attention during the entire travel service. Tourists using TOUR4LIFE receive unforgettable experiences and LUXURY class services. Choose Tour4life for your unforgettable holiday. Welcome to Italy. We are waiting for you.

From 150 € per group

Duration: 3 hours

Catania - classic tour

Catania– 3-4 hours

Catania is the second largest and most important city in Sicily. Official figures say that 300,000 people live in the city, but in fact, the urban agglomeration has long gone beyond this and the current number of city residents exceeds 600,000 people. Catania is a very ancient city. When in 735 BC. Greeks land on the beach of Naxos and establish the first Greek colony in Sicily, there already existed a Siculus settlement. In 1693 the city was 100% destroyed by the earthquake. The city is reborn on the old site in the Sicilian Baroque style, which in Catania is so distinctive that it is called "Catania Baroque".

The tour starts at Stesichora Square where the ruins of a Roman amphitheater, the monument to Vincenzo Bellini by the architect Giulio Monteverde and the neoclassical Cathedral of St. Blaise of Sebaste, which is being built on the site of the martyrdom of St. Agatha, are located. We continue the tour along the central street of Etnea where we visit the churches of St. Michael the Archangel and Kollejata. We examine the square of the university, one of the oldest in Italy, founded in 1434. All the buildings surrounding this square were built by the most famous architect of Catania, Giovanni Battista Vaccarini. Followed by the Cathedral Square, the pearl of the Sicilian Baroque with the famous elephant fountain - the symbol of the city of Catania. We look at the Cathedral. 10 min. free time for a walk through the oldest fish market in Sicily (only in the morning, except Sunday). The tour continues with a tour of St. Francis Square and the Cathedral of St. Francis. Crociferi Street follows, which is called the most beautiful baroque street in Italy, the Rotunda baths, the monastery of St. Nicholas of the Benedictine monks, the second largest in Europe, nowadays the faculty of philology (visiting the monastery - 6 Euros). The tour ends at the Piazza of the Vincenzo Bellini Opera House.

From 2000 € per group

Duration: 0 hours

Enogastronomic tour of Sicily. Like on a volcano

Route number 2: Like on a volcano

Location: Nebrodi and Etna mountains

Arrival at the airport and transfer from Palermo airport, Catania to Galati (village in the Nebrodi mountains)

dinner and check-in at "agriturismo" (house in nature) "La Margherita"

Morning visit to Catafurco "waterfalls" and Mangalaviti forest. Lunch at the Portella Gazzana restaurant, included in the Slow Food Osterie d'Italia guide.

Afternoon Cooking School: "How to cook Sicilian sweets". From cannolo to piñolata with honey.

Morning visit to Tindari and Marinello

Lunch at the Val Daemone winery in Patti with a visit to the vineyard.

Visit to the ceramics factory in Patti (Caleca)

Dinner and overnight at La Margherita.

Excursion and trekking in the mountains of Rocche del Crasto with the opportunity to see eagles and vultures.

A trip to Nebrodi Adventure Park, where you can walk in the shade of eight-meter trees.

Lunch in a typical trattoria A Petrusa with traditional Sicilian dishes.

In the evening visit Frazzanò and the Monastero di san Filippo di Fragalà dating back to 1090.

Dinner and overnight at La Margherita.

Arrival in Sinagra, visiting Fratelli Borrello (you can taste black pig prosciutto, which is grown here), and then move to the restaurant of the same name (marked in the Osterie d "Italia guide) for tasting other dishes.

Acquaintance with Sinagra itself, a trip to Capo D "Orlando, shopping and tasting branded nut ice cream

Dinner and overnight at La Margherita

A trip to Etna with a tour of the highest volcano in Europe, a walk at an altitude of 2000 meters

Lunch and visit to Etna winery

Return to la Margherita, dinner

Drive to Novara di Sicilia, one of the most beautiful Italian medieval towns.

Lunch at a typical restaurant for this place.

Afternoon - "Laboratory of taste: typical Novara sweets and cheese"

Return and dinner at La Margherita

Drive to Motta Camastra with a visit to the Alcantara Gorge. Dinner at a local restaurant.

Afternoon trip to Taormina, shopping, walking

Return to la Margherita for dinner and overnight

A trip to the Madonian mountains with a visit to Castelbuono - a city with a castle dating back to 1300 and a stop at the next Slow Food presidio. Lunch at the Nangalarruni restaurant under the direction of Giuseppe Carollo, one of the most important Sicilian chefs.

Happy "Laboratory of taste: manna"

Dinner and overnight at La Margherita

Transfer to Catania Airport

From 250 € per group

Duration: 4 hours

Short description:

Meeting at the port (at the hotel), then moving along the motorway to the city of Giarre, where we begin the ascent to a height of 2000 meters on the Sapienza plateau. On the way, tourists will be able to see small Sicilian villages and a colossal panorama of the Ionian coast. On the Sapienza plateau, tourists will see the Sylvestra craters, taste the very strong drink Fire of Etna and, if desired, can climb to the very top to a height of 3000m. to view the main craters using a funicular and a special jeep. The cost of the funicular is 65 euros per person.

After the tour, if desired, you can stop at a local tavern for lunch.

From 270 € per group

Duration: 7 hours

Catania and Syracuse

Catania and Syracuse

The tour consists of:

The first part of the tour starts from the city of Catania, visiting the local fish market (those who wish can try fresh oysters, sea urchins, fasolari), visiting the historical center, the Cathedral and Ursino Castle, accompanied by a guide. Lunch is free (if you want, you can walk along Etneia Street, where there are many different shops). In Catania, you will have the opportunity to taste the typical Sicilian sweets "Cannoli" and "granita", "arancini".

In the afternoon transfer to the city of Archimedes - Syracuse.

A visit to the archaeological park (the famous quarry "Del Paradiso" (gorge - "Ear of Dionysius" and "dei Kordaii"), the Roman amphitheater, the altar of Heron, where the Greeks sacrificed 450 bulls to the gods, and the colossal Greek building Greek theater for 15,000 spectators.

Transfer to the island of Ortigia, where the city of Syracuse was originally founded by the Greeks in 733 BC… Walking tour through the old streets of the island with stops:

temple of Apollo (650 BC),

the famous Cathedral (once there was a pagan temple of Minerva (480 BC),

the legendary spring "Aretuza".

Free time to buy souvenirs. Return.

From 250 € per group

Duration: 5 hours

In the footsteps of the movie "The Godfather"

In the footsteps of the movie "The Godfather"

The tour consists of:

Departure from the hotel and departure to the town of Fiumefreddo.

Visit to the private villa "Dei Schiavi", where Francis Coppola filmed the highlights of the film related to Sicily in 1972, 1990 and 2001. Moving to the medieval village of Savoca in the Agro Valley, visiting the bar "Vitelli" - the guide will tell you exactly why, this bar was chosen for the film (what a huge meaning its name has). This town, once the residence of the Bishop of the province of Messina, and therefore has many different churches "S. Nikolo", "S. Katerina" of the Byzantine-Norman era. In one of these churches, the scene was filmed, the wedding of the girl Apollonia with Michael Corleone in the movie Padrino. Free time, if you wish, you can visit very interesting catacombs in the Franciscan monastery, where mummies of the 17th-18th centuries are exhibited.

Continuation of the tour moving to another medieval village of Forza d'Agro located at an altitude of 500 m above sea level at the foot of the Norman castle. A visit to the Church of the Holy Trinity in the Augustinian monastery, where the entrance arch "Durazzo" has survived to our times (XV century). Return to the hotel or continuation is optional: since this town is famous among the local population of Sicily for its restaurants with “sea delicacies” cuisine, we go for lunch (Fresh oysters, fasolari, scampi, stuffed mussels, grilled red shrimp, peasant shark sausage ( sword fish), baked squids, cutlets from newborn fry, Sicilian cannoli plus local dry and nutmeg wine ...).

From 250 € per group

Duration: 4 hours

Classic Mount Etna

Mount Etna is the highest active volcano in Europe. Altitude 3350 m. above sea level.

Climbing to its top, you can observe how the surrounding nature and flora change in accordance with temperature changes.

The Mount Etna excursion is the most popular excursion.

Short description:

Meeting at the hotel, then moving along the motorway to the city of Giarre, where we begin the ascent to a height of 2000 meters on the Sapienza plateau. On the way, tourists will be able to see small Sicilian villages and a magnificent panorama of the Ionian coast. On the way, stop for tasting local products: honey, wine, olive oil and more. On the Sapienza plateau, tourists will see the Sylvestra craters, taste the very strong drink Fire of Etna and, if desired, can climb to the very top to a height of 3000m. to view the main craters using a funicular and a special jeep. The cost of the funicular is 57.5 euros per person. If necessary, you can rent warm jackets and shoes (2 euros.

From 180 € per group

Duration: 3 hours

CATANIA: THE CREATION OF ETNA

The city of Catania is built on lava and from lava, located at the foot of Mount Etna, executed and pardoned by this extraordinary fire-breathing mountain. Having entered this city, you plunge into the chaotic atmosphere of an eternal holiday. Here is the most famous fish market in Sicily, here flows the holy river Amenano, here Sartorius hid the secret of the fourth solar meridian, and here is kept the treasure of Martin I...

The cathedral square is decorated with the fountain of the Elephant and the Cathedral of St. Agatha, the protector and patroness of the townspeople who escaped the furious wrath of Frederick II, and royal favor was extended to the residents. Her bright "A" is carved on all the administrative buildings of the city, a rich heiress and an educated woman sacrificed herself to the great teachings. Her image and name are able to pacify the wrath of Etna.

Walking along the streets of Catania, you unwittingly become a participant in a unique performance of the change of eras and civilizations, each action resembles a theatrical performance by V. Bellini and J. Verga. The once Roman baths were turned by fate into a Christian temple dedicated to the Holy Virgin Mary during her lifetime. At the Greek Theatre, completely carved out of volcanic lava, you can hear the murmur of monastic voices. E

The powerful architecture of the volcanic structures is filled with pain, hope and symbolism, behind the dense volcanic structures are hidden works of art by Matia Preti, Antonello de Saliba (the heir to Antonello's talent and his nephew), the Sicilian "Caravaggio" by Pietro Novelli. These works open the page of the Sicilian revival, special, deep, not similar to the continental one. Medieval streets of ancient monasteries are filled with secrets and funny stories. A headless horseman rode down one of the streets every night. And from the Castle of Ursino to this day, at exactly midnight, a woman's soul comes out in search of her knight. How the monks lived in closed religious monasteries, not denying themselves even a cup of coffee, and the revolutionary Garibaldi sat on water and bread for three days. In Catania, the Russian tsars visited the Princes of Biscari, who opened the first gallery of history and archeology in Europe.

At the end of the traditional aperitif in the volcanic Giudeka, the lower Jewish quarter.

From 180 € per group

Duration: 5 hours

Etna private tour

Private tour on Etna, highest volcano in Europe (3340 m), since 2013, under the protection of UNESCO. Departure from Catania Rifugio Sapienza(1900 m).

Parking for three hours, during which you can go for a short walk, visit the extinct Silvestri craters

From 35 € per group

Duration: 4 hours

Sightseeing walking tour of the city of Catania

Catania is the cultural capital of the island. The city is located on a fertile plain between the coast of the Ionian Sea and the southern foot of Mount Etna.
Catania was founded by the Greeks in the 8th century. BC, but the proximity to the volcano brought a lot of trouble to the city of Catania. After the strongest eruption of 1669 and a devastating earthquake. The symbol of the city is an elephant made of lava basalt and holding an Egyptian obelisk on its back. Now Catania is a beautiful city with magnificent palaces and baroque cathedrals of the 18th century, an ancient University, large shops and boutiques and the oldest market in Sicily. The ancient sights of Catania attract millions of tourists from all over the world every year.

During the tour of the city of Catania you will see the Cathedral, the Fountain of the Elephant, the Greek and Roman theaters and the Odeon, the ruins of the Roman amphitheater, the botanical garden of Piazza San Francesco, Via Crociferi, Via Etnea, the Great Bellini Theater and the Villa Bellini Park.

From 285 € per group

Duration: 9 hours

Private tour "Etna and Taormina"

Private tour on Etna Catania at 9:00 by car with a driver, around 10:00 arrival at the southern observation deck Rifugio Sapienza Silvestri craters, see the traces of the last few eruptions, or take a cable car to a height of 2500 m, then by jeep, accompanied by a guide licensed by the Italian Club of Mountaineers, climb even higher - to a height of 3000 m - to the area of ​​active craters (~ 2 hours). We strongly recommend that you bring comfortable shoes and warm clothes.

At 12:00 departure to Taormina, arrival at the place around 13:00. Panoramic view of the picturesque island Isola Bella And bay of Giardini Naxos. Parking for four hours, during which you can visit the magnificent Taormina, which today is considered the center of elite tourism. Good location, picturesque views, unique monuments of culture and architecture, rich history and special atmosphere make the city an ideal place for an unforgettable vacation at any time of the year.

From 285 € per group

Duration: 7 hours

Private tour "Etna and wine tour"

Private tour on Etna, the highest volcano in Europe (3340 m), which has been under the protection of UNESCO since 2013. Departure from Catania at 9:00 by car with a driver, around 10:00 arrival at the southern observation deck Rifugio Sapienza(1900 m). Parking for two hours, during which you can go for a short walk, visit the extinct Silvestri craters, see the traces of the last few eruptions, or take a cable car to a height of 2500 m, then by jeep, accompanied by a guide licensed by the Italian Club of Mountaineers, climb even higher - to a height of 3000 m - to the area of ​​active craters (~ 2 hours). We strongly recommend that you bring comfortable shoes and warm clothes.

During the second part of the tour (from 12:00 pm), you will go on a short trip along the so-called " Etna Wine Road”, during which you will not only learn a lot of interesting things about Sicilian wines, but also visit the places where they are produced. Visit to one of the local wineries. Parking for about two hours, during which you will have the opportunity to visit the wine cellar (cantina), take part in the tasting of local wines and traditional products.

From 255 € per group

Duration: 7 hours

Private tour "Taormina and Castelmola"

Private tour during which you can visit a small town Castelmola, "floating" between heaven and earth, towering over the magnificent Taormina. Terrace town on the coast ionian sea with narrow streets and a picturesque view of Mount Etna. Departure from Catania at 9:00 by car with a driver, around 10:00 arrival in Castelmola. Parking for one hour, during which you can stroll through the streets of this cozy medieval city.

During the second part of the tour you will visit Taormina, which today is considered the center of elite tourism. Good location, picturesque views, unique monuments of culture and architecture, rich history and special atmosphere make the city an ideal place for an unforgettable vacation at any time of the year. Parking for four hours, during which you can go on a small walking tour through the narrow streets of the "pearl" mediterranean, stroll along Corso Umberto, the central pedestrian street, with a large selection of bars, restaurants and all kinds of shops, visit Greco-Roman theater, the second largest in Sicily, a "temple" of art and culture, from the territory of which an unforgettable view of the Mount Etna And bay of Giardini Naxos.

From 285 € per group

Duration: 9 hours

Private tour "Syracuse and Noto"

Private tour in town But that, which is often referred to as " baroque capital” and which in 2002 was included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Departure from Catania at 9:00 by car with a driver, arriving in Noto around 10:30. Parking for two hours, during which you can go for a short walk through the historic center of the city, among the main attractions of which is the majestic Cathedral (Duomo), which was recently restored.

During the second part of the tour you will visit the city syracuse, in antiquity one of the most significant Greek colonies in Sicily, UNESCO World Heritage Site. Parking for four hours, during which you can visit Archaeological Park of Neapolis, on the territory of which is the largest in Sicily Greek theater, the Roman amphitheater, the altar of Hieron, and famous quarries, including " Ear of Donisius". The final part of the tour is dedicated to the island of Ortigia, the historical part of the city, during a visit to which you can walk along the narrow city streets, have a bite to eat in one of the street cafes, look into the Cathedral (Duomo), see the ruins of the Temple of Apollo and the Arethusa Fountain.

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.

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!

For many centuries it played the role of the capital, the center of administrative power, and Messina remained the main trading gate, Catania, located between them, very skillfully benefited from such an intermediate position.

Weather in Catania:

How to get to Catania:

	Transport in Catania and surroundings

Get oriented in Catania

Central railway and bus station are close to c port, on a Piazza Giovanni XXIII (Piazza Giovanni Venti Tresimo). It departs strictly to the west Corso Martiri della Liberta (corso Martiri della Liberta), which leads to historical center. Walking tour (1 km) along the avenue to Piazza della Repubblica (Piazza Repubblica) will take about 15 minutes. Then you should move in the same direction along Corso Sicily to the intersection c via Etna , on which the best shops, cafes and hotels in the city.

If by via Etna continue moving from north to south, then after a few minutes you can get to Piazza del Duomo, and if you change direction, the avenue will soon lead you to commercial center of Catania, near via Pacini (Via Pacini) and via Umberto I(via Umberto Primo).

Majority city ​​buses depart from the railway station, including airport express Fontanarossa. In summer, additional regular buses are introduced in the city c letter D, they serve passengers who want to get on beach.

Free WiFi in Catania

There are free Wi-Fi hotspots in Catania run by Freeluna. First time use requires registration. After registration, you can connect to the city network for free for 3 hours a day. Free Wi-Fi hotspots are active: piazza Duomo, piazza Teatro Massimo, piazza Università, piazza Stesicoro, at Catania Central Station and in Villa Bellini Park. You can also connect to the network at piazza Castello in the small nearby town of Acicastello.

History of Catania

Scientists believe that the city Katana was founded by the Greeks at the beginning of the 8th century BC. in place of the siculs. The name of the city is derived from the Siculian "hill", and the ancient acropolis was indeed located on a hill, where a large Benedictine monastery now stands. In 476 B.C. e. Syracusan tyrant Hieron captured the city, expelled all the inhabitants and settled his own subjects here. After 15 years, justice was restored, the inhabitants returned to their homes and, holding a grudge against the invaders, concluded an alliance with Athens against Syracuse, for which they soon paid the price. In 415, Dionysius I, the new tyrant of Syracuse, again captured and ravaged Catane.

With the arrival of the Romans in 263 B.C. an era of prosperity began, but many ancient monuments were lost or badly damaged. For three centuries of Byzantine domination on the island (535-827), the economic situation of Catan was quite stable, thanks to the export of food products to Constantinople.

1. Catania Cathedral

Cathedral( Duomo) occupies the eastern side of the square. His radical restructuring, which is better called "building from scratch", began in 1709 under the leadership of Girolamo Palazzotto. From the former temple, only the foundations, the apse and part of the transept have survived. Main facade engaged in Gian Battista Vaccarini, who spent thirty years of his life (1730-1761) to bring his creation to the end.

The cathedral is dedicated to St. Agatha - the patroness of Catania, her relics rest in the southern part of the temple, next to royal tombs Frederick II and Constanta of Aragon, wife of Frederick III. Another great son of Catania, the composer Vincenzo Bellini, is buried nearby.

• Piazza del Duomo
• daily 08.00–12.30, 16.00–19.30

Elephant Fountain (Fontana dell'Elefante) on Cathedral Square - the main symbol of the city. It was installed by Vaccarini during the reconstruction of Catania after the earthquakes of 1693. In the center of the structure is a figure of an elephant with white tusks, carved from black lava stone, an Egyptian obelisk rises on the back of the animal. Most likely, the elephant was carved back in the days of ancient Rome and decorated one of the temples of Isis, of which there were many in Italy.

2. Municipal Palace

On the north side of the square is the Municipal Palace ( Palazzo del Municipio), its construction began in 1695, and ended only a hundred years later. The facade of the building was made according to the drawings of Vaccarini.

3. Gravina-Cruillas Palace and Bellini Museum

The journey through Catania from the Cathedral Square can be continued in a westerly direction along via Vittorio Emanuele II to Piazza San Francesco d'Assisi (piazza San Francesco), on which stands Palace of Gravina Cruillas, where placed Bellini Museum(Museo Belliniano).

• Bellini Museum
• P.zza S. Francesco, 3

4. Greek theater

Nearby are Greek theater And Odeon. The inhabitants of Catania used to call the theater Greek, but in fact it was built by the Romans in the I-II centuries. For its time, the theater was considered quite solid, its diameter is 102 m, and its capacity is 7,000 spectators. The theater was all lined with marble, but in the 11th century the valuable stone was removed and used to decorate the first cathedral.

• Teatro Romano - Odeon
• Via Vittorio Emanuele II, 266
• Closed until March 14, 2015
• € 6,00

5. Odeon

To the west of the theater is another ancient spectacular building - the Odeon. This small stage platform (for 1300 spectators) was discovered relatively recently. Perhaps the Odeon was intended for orchestra rehearsals, various competitions and meetings.

6. Ursino Castle

south of p. San Francesco d'Assisi located ursino castle (Castello Ursino) - a typical medieval defensive structure was built in 1239-1250 by the master Riccardo Lentini by order of Frederick II of Hohenstaufen. In plan, the castle is a square, each corner of which is reinforced with a round bastion. Initially, the fortress stood on the seashore and was surrounded by a deep moat, but during the eruption in 1669, lava flows filled the moat, and the coastline was pushed back several hundred meters. Currently, within the walls of the citadel is located City Museum (Museo Civico), formed on the basis of the collections of Prince Biscari.

• Ursino Castle
• Piazza Federico di Svevia
• 095 34 58 30
• hedgehog. 9.00-19.00, last entrance 18.30
• Entry € 8.00

7. Useda Gate

By via San Calogero (via San Calogero) you can walk to Useda gate (Porta Uzeda), built in 1695 in honor of the Spanish Viceroy Pacheco de Useda.

8. Biscari Palace

Then continue on to the Biscari Palace ( Palazzo Biscari. This wonderful creation of architect Francesco Battaglia is one of the best examples of local baroque. At different times, Alonzo di Benedetto and Giuseppe Palazzotto worked on the facades of the palace.

• Palazzo Biscari
• Via Museo Biscari,10

Continuing along the path via Porticello(Via Porticello), then turning onto via V ittorio emanuele II, back to Piazza del Duomo.

Further, past the Municipal Palace, we will move along the main highway of Catania - via Etna, Etna street. Here you can see many interesting palaces, beautiful churches, elegant restaurants and tempting shops, but our goal is:

9. Roman amphitheater

Roman amphitheater (Anfiteatro Romano) is located on p. Stesicoro (pl. Stesikoro). It was built in the 2nd century from lava stone, marble and brick. The stands that surrounded the elongated arena could once accommodate up to 15,000 spectators.

For many years this grandiose structure was hidden under layers of lava, and only in 1904-1906 the amphitheater, thanks to the efforts of archaeologists, saw the light again. Part of the arena is still underground, so it is better to take a tour of its depths, accompanied by a special guide. On the opposite side of the square from the amphitheater, a monument to composer Vincenzo Bellini.

• Anfiteatro Romano
• Piazza Stesicoro
• Tue-Sat 9.00 - 13.30 and 14.30-17.00
• Free admission

WITH Piazza Stesicoro turn back to via Crociferi (Via Crociferi), which runs almost parallel via Etna. This highway got its name in honor of the religious order, whose brothers were engaged in the treatment of the poor. There are several buildings in the "black baroque" style on the street.

10. Chiesa San Nicolo all' Arena

By via Gesuiti you can go to piazza Dante, where the largest in Catania is located Church of San Nicolò all Arena (Chiesa San Nicolo all' Arena), which began to be built back in 1558, but during the earthquake of 1693 it was completely destroyed. The new temple was erected with the participation of Francesco Battaglia and Stefano Ittara, although the grandiose plan of the architects could not be fully realized - the facade remained unfinished.

• Church of San Nicolò all Arena
• Piazza Dante
• Mon-Sat 9.00-13.00, admission is free

The church is part of the complex Benedictine monastery (Monastero dei Benedittini), in which the literary and philosophical faculties of the University of Catania are now based. Once upon a time, this monastery occupied the second place in Europe in terms of its size. Destroyed in 1693, the monastery was restored by masters Antonio Amato, Francesco Battaglia and Gian Battista Vaccarini. Initially, they planned to build a huge complex, uniting four monasteries at once, but due to financial difficulties, the plan was only half realized. At present, the monastery houses a library with more than 100,000 volumes in its collection.

• Monastero dei Benedettini
• Piazza Dante, 32
• daily from 9.00 to 17.00.
• Entrance: 6.00 € - concessionary € 4.00 - stud. 2.00 € - up to 12 years old - free of charge

11. Abbey Church of St. Agates

Abbey Church of St. Agatha ( Badia di Sant'Agata) is located on via Sant'Agata from the side via Vittorio Emanuele II. This beautiful baroque temple was built in 1735-1767 according to the design of Vaccarini.

• Chiesa Badia di S.Agata
• Via Vittorio Emanuele 184
• Tue-Sun 9.00-12.00

Museums and theaters in Catania

Diocesan Museum (Museo Diocesano)

• P.zza Duomo Via Etnea, 8
• Mon-Fri 9.00-14.00, Sat 9.00-13.00
• €. 7,00, Museo + Terme Achilliane € 10,00

Giovanni Verga Apartment Museum(Museo di Casa Verga)

• Via Sant'Anna, 8
• Mon - Sat 9.00-13.15 / 14.15 -19.15
• € 4,00

Emilio Greco Museum ( Museo di Emilio Greco )

• Piazza San Francesco d'Assisi, 3
• Mon - Sat 9.00-19.00, Sun 9.00 - 13.00
• € 5.00 (together with Museo Belliniano)

Museo Belliniano

• P.zza S. Francesco, 3
• Mon - Sat 9.00-19.00, Sun 9.00 - 13.00
• € 5.00 (together with Museo Emilio Greco)

Museo dello Sbarco

• € 4.00, reduced € 2.00

Cinema Museum (Museo del Cinema)

• Le Ciminière Piazzale R. Chinnici
• Tue-Sun 9.00-16.45, last admission 15.45
• € 4.00, reduced € 2.00

Museum of Contemporary Art of Sicily (Museo Arte Contemporanea Sicilia)

• Via Teatro Greco, 2
• Mon-Sun 9.00-18.00, Thu closed
• € 3.50 reduced: € 2.00 MACS+ Monastero € 5.00

Opera Theater of Massimo Bellini ( Teatro Massimo Bellini)

• Via G.Perrotta, 12
• 095 730 61 11

J. Verga Theater ( Teatro V erga )

• Via Fava, 35
• 095 36 35 45

Angelo Musco Theater ( Teatro Angelo Musco )

• Via Umberto, 312
• 095 53 55 14

Fish market ( Pescheria )

• Piazza Di Benedetto – Piazza Pardo
• Mon–Sat 08.00–13.00

Holidays in Catania

The main city holiday festival of st. Agates- Passes February 3-5. These celebrations began to be held regularly since 1126, when the remains of the martyr were returned to Sicily from Constantinople, where they had been kept since 1040.

According to legend, a young Christian named Agatha rejected the harassment of the pagan Quintianus, for which she was thrown into prison, where she was martyred (250). The relics of the saint are kept in the cathedral, but once a year the sacred shrine with its incorruptible remains is taken out of the church, accompanied by a solemn procession. and sometimes more often: if the rebellious Etna suddenly rushes lava flows towards Catania, then the townspeople always turn to the help of sacred dust - after all, only St. Agatha!

Specialties and souvenirs from Catania

Arancino- cone-shaped rice croquettes stuffed with meat, tomato sauce, cheese and peas

Fish- do not miss the opportunity to visit the fish market, imbued with the atmosphere of the port city

horsemeat- very popular in Catania, especially in the area around the Benedictine monastery

Pasta alla Norma- traditional pasta with tomato sauce, fried eggplant slices, grated ricotta cheese and fresh basil.

Cannolo alla Ricotta- the world-famous traditional dessert from Catania

Cassatella di Sant'Agata- a traditional dessert from Catania, named after St. Agates

Pasta di Mandorla almond milk dessert

Granita- a variant of sorbet based on almonds or black mulberry, served with a sweet bun -“ brioscia“: a refreshing and satisfying option that can be found in almost every restaurant in Catania during the summer.

Catania Map

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.