I give you all my best tips to plan your next trip. But beware its a real authentic market! Like most of Italy, Syracuse has tons of history; the Temple Of Apollo, the Archaeological Park Neapolis. No visit to Catania is complete without seeing this gem. He will take you to explore the villages of Savoca and Forza, the church of Santa Lucia (where Michael got married), the Vitelli bar or even the Castello Degli Schiavi. Today you can explore the grounds of the castle and climb up to the top battlements for fantastic views out to the sea and the surrounding countryside. It is dedicated to King Ferdinand IV of Bourbon-Parma and his wife Maria Carolina of Spain. At the centre of the Piazza del Duomo is the Fontana dellElefante. You have to buy the ticket before you enter the bus and you can do that at the newspaper stand (Tabacchi) at the airport. You will not find a more delightfully juicy tangerine elsewhere. They will come pick you up at your hotel and you will enjoy a full day guided visit to both Taormina and the Etna. Thank you great information about Catania I hope to spend two days there before joining my daughter and Ragusa. etnea via catania MAKE SURE TOSUBSCRIBETO MYPODCAST TO HEAR ALL MY LATEST EPISODES. The sanctuary is an annexation of the Church of St. Nicholas Arena a late baroque church that began construction in 1500. Created in the 2nd century BC, the theatre features a main seating area and also a smaller Odeon theatre to the left hand side. The botanical gardens of Catania contain many different types of trees, shrubs, and plants worldwide, including the Mediterranean climate. Translated into English as Elephant Fountain, the Fontana Dell Elefante depicts a smiling elephant carrying an Egyptian obelisk on its back. If you dont have a car, there is even an organized day trip leaving from Catania. I dont normally leave ratings but this is a good article. Its unfortunately a common scam in Sicily, and thats why you must take an insurance when booking your car in order to get a refund. The visit takes around 1h. A childrens play area is complete with slide and climbing frames and several beach bars and shops. However, its located right next to the harbor and its not very nice. Militello is a picturesque village of 7,300 residents just 35km southwest of Catania. This fantastic beach is located approximately 15 minutes to the south of Catania in close proximity to the port and harbour. The sea is calm and warm, and the Mediterranean is always pleasant and relaxed. It was built in 1076. Its a very long beach in the South of Catania and the only one sandy beach around the city. This architectural feature illuminates the church. To book your 3 hours guided tour of Catania by Segway, you need to click the button below: Behind the fountain, there is Catania Cathedral, which can be visited free of charge every day of the week. Youll find several souvenir and snack shops perfect for making an afternoon pit stop. Catania virtually sits in the shade of the immense Mount Etna, and this active stratovolcano is one of the main tourist attractions of Sicily. While getting lost in a new city is always an adventure, Catania offers gems that cant be missed. The Piazza del Duomo is most recognizable by its Fontana Dell Elefante an elaborate fountain with an Egyptian obelisk mounted on a smiling elephant. The Benedictine Monastery of San Nicol lArena is the second-largest Benedictine monastery in Europe. The theatre was built around 300 BC and was once used for events, plays and other entertainment such as gladiator fights and the Naumachie simulated naval battles (the ground floor of the stadium was filled with water). This beach is a true natural phenomenon and features black volcanic sands, ash and a multitude of volcanic rocks. The best way to explore the volcano is to book a tour. Schedules vary depending on the day of the week. Via Dei Crociferi runs between the Roman Theatre and the Giardini Bellini and features four stunning churches The Church of St. Francesco Borgia, The Church of San Benedetto, The Church of St. Francis Assisi and the Church of San Giuliana. Standing in the center of the square, you can admire the citys emblem: The Elephants Fountain (fontana dell elefante in Italian). You will also go to the beautiful baroque town of Noto. by the Chalcidians Greeks. Also, trips can be cancelled due to bad weather so confirm the schedule the day before. However, its clearly not the nicest beach of Sicily! Aci Castello is located about 10 miles north of Catania. Inside the museum is a vast collection that was originally housed in the Biscari Museum and was one of the most important in Europe at the time. Its cool to see fish and seafood local to the region that you may have never seen before. In order to help you plan your stay in town, I have written this guide of the best things to do in Catania and around. I arrived in Syracuse from Malta by ferry and didnt even feel the ship moving, so take that for what its worth. It boasts a group of other monuments such as the bell tower and the cathedral. It features a huge Greek Theater with a capacity of more than 20 000 people! Motorboats, sailboats, yachts, small boats without a license, with or without a skipper: they simply have the most complete offer for boat rental. It has stood there for centuries. catania fontana dell tripadvisor I compare rental cars prices in Sicily now! Militello is packed with sites for a small town. Various tour operators offer day trips to the Volcano You can choose to hike, cycle, or even ride an ATV or a jeep The choice is yours. Arriving by boat is ultimately cheaper than flying but takes forever. The weather cleared up, and all was right in the world again. Bonus Visit the filming locations of The Godfather movie. Click on the following button for more info about the trip to Etna volcano: This trip to Etna can also be done at the end of the afternoon, to enjoy the sunset over the Volcano. This list wouldnt be complete without a pizzeria recommendation. etnea via catania Youll find everything you need and everything you didnt know you needed. The Civic Museum at Castello Ursino is an enormous castle-now-made museum in the heart of Catania. The gardens are extremely well organized and are extremely pleasant to walk around. If youre more of a late sleeper, Wednesday to Friday allows for afternoon visits. There are also many statues atop the arch, including those of King Ferdinand IV and Queen Maria Carolina. And at the end of this great day of visits, you will go back to your hotel in Catania. Exitis a pub located next to the Teatro Massimo V. Bellini. The Legend has it that theses 8 basalt rocks would have been thrown by Polypheme the giant from Etna on Ulysses to prevent him from fleeing the island. My Name is Christopher Rudder, and welcome to my travel blog.I am thegenius, billionaire, playboy, philanthropistbehind Rudderless Travel. Its relics are located inside the cathedral. Everyone can participate, and its a lot of fun! Wander along the cobblestone streets with the worlds freshest gelato and take in the citys atmosphere. ursino catania Impressive churches include the Church of San Nicolo, Church of San Benedetto and Santuario Santa Maria Della Stella. Many earthquakes and the huge volcanic eruption of Etna in 1669 completely changed the landscape of the area. The Catania, Sicily weather was beautiful, and I couldnt wait to explore all the things to do in Catania Italy. It could be nicknamed the Church Street as you can admire not less than 4 churches along the street. From Catania, many tours companies offer day trips to Etna. At the end of the road, if the weather is clear, you will be able to see the silhouette of the famous volcano that many tourists from all over the world come to admire: the Etna. All my articles about Sicily (click here), Things to Do in Catania: All Highlights and Best Places to Visit. I book my sailboat cruise from Catania now! Bussing is often the cheapest, but its also the longest and steals from your travel time. The good thing though is that the single ticket costs only 1 euro! Since Catania has its airport, I thought I could explore the city for a day and then catch a plane directly to Rome. The most frequent scam, when your flight is outside of the rental agencys opening hours, is to tell you to drop the keys in the mailbox and the agency will take care of the returned car check. The church is dedicated to the monks who followed the ways of St. Nicholas of Bari. After visiting the Valley, you will go eat your lunch at the famous Scala dei Turchi beach, where white limestone cliffs plunge into the sea. Catania is the second-largest city of Sicily after Palermo and is located on the east coast facing the Ionian Sea. A packed lunch made of Sicilian street food is also included. After the devastating earthquake of 1693, the Church was reconstructed in the 18th century. The village was initially built around the castle that lies at its heart. Thanks for your support! Hopefully, the lava flows surrounded the castle without damaging it. You can read more about the schedules and entrance fee on the monastery official website. document.getElementById("ak_js_1").setAttribute("value",(new Date()).getTime()); You know your travel dates? Home Travel Guides Italy 15 Best Things to Do in Catania (Italy). Creator of the Voyage Tips blog, travel and photography lover. You can walk around the castle and see whats up close. The bus goes every 25 minutes, from 5.00 AM to midnight, and the ticket costs about 4 euros which is valid for 90 minutes. The Anfiteatro Romano di Catania or Roman Amphitheater in Catania was built initially with lava stone then covered in marble. Book your car early to get the best price! Wonderingwhat to see around Catania? The main attraction of Aci Trezza, a small seaside resort, are the faraglioni or Rocks of Cyclops. Scardaci, you had me at Canoli. From piazza del duomo, take Via Etnea, the main street of Catania. The botanical gardens of Catania lie within the universitys grounds close to the Bellini Garden (Giardini Bellini) in the heart of the historic old town of Catania. Italian delights and dreamy accommodation options to rest your head. To book your 4-hour boat tour from Catania, simply click on the button below: This boat trip is also offered in a small group version on a sailboat, with lunch included. You will be surprised by its architecture and vaults. Catastrophic earthquakes destroyed Catania in 1169. The city has some great attractions, but this isnt a trip thats always going to be filled with a busy schedule. In 1434, the first university in Sicily was founded in the city. You can also find other beaches (not sand) around Aci Trezza and Acireale, North of Catania. Sicily has several fine castles that serve as remnants from the period of conquest that saw the island change hands from various different ruling factions. As the second largest city on the Italian Island of Sicily, Catania is an important economic hub for the country and is actually the 7th largest metropolis by area. If you book early enough, the round trip can cost you 60 (without checked baggage). They all date back centuries and feature incredible craftsmanship. This touris by far the most popular. From the Piazza del Duomo of Catania, the closest beach is at 30 min on foot. Whats great is that its a small group excursion, you wont be more than 8 people! The front faade features a grey stone design with a series of ornate statues depicting religious figures and a large domed basilica sits at the back of the main aisle. The most recent eruption was in 2015 and the volcano actually discharged some lava. The church of San Giuliano is famous for being the setting of the Selargino Wedding. According to the tradition of a Selargino marriage, the newly married couples write their vows on parchment paper, secured in the Church of San Giuliano for 25 years before anyone can reaccess them. The small income I make here will help in maintaining this blog. Getting to Catania wont require much effort. The Lido Azzurra is a beautiful stretch of sandy beach located about fifteen minutes drive south of Catania. Youre in Italy, be prepared for feasts after feasts! This Christian martyr became the patron saint of the city, celebrated every 5th of February during the Feast of SantAgata. You guessed it, this streets name comes from the view you will have there. Instead, youll have ample time to try out quaint cafes and mouth-watering restaurants. The Bus departure point is at the bus station in front of the airport building. Its one of the few churches in Catania that has three-wide aisles with regular double columns. There are many magical places to explore, places to eat, and charming overnight stays in the picturesque city you have to know how to find them all. They will come pick you up at your hotel in the morning and take you to the Valley of The Temple. You can also take advantage of the opportunity to visit the Villa Bellini (if you are lucky enough to have it open). La Pescheria di Catania featured this fish market on an episode of Parts Unknown hosted by the late Anthony Bourdain. You should definitely go to the gardens of Villa Bellini, they are ideal to enjoy a bit of freshness, take a rest or picnic. And if you want to take a dip, head to Isola Bella, a beautiful pebble beach with crystal clear waters. This Benedictine Monastery complex is located in the centre of Catania and is one of the most important and largest examples of its kind in Europe. Historical Facts About CataniaHow to Get to Catania13 Things to Do & See in Catania. Do you plan to visit Catania during your trip to Sicily? Consider climbing to the top of the basilica dome for panoramic views of the city; admire the front faade that features sculptured window decorations, and walking through the cloisters to see the fantastic arches and fountains. . Keep this guide close by and youll have yourself an unforgettable journey in this dreamy city.MAKE SURE TOSUBSCRIBETO MYYOUTUBE CHANNEL TO SEEALL MY LATEST VIDEOS! Start the day at the local fish market. Walk around the castle for some photographic opportunities, but also visit inside to see the fantastic Museo Civico which is housed within the castle walls. The markets are held every morning on weekdays. There is also several sections of wooden decking complete with sunbeds consider relaxing for a while here, enjoying the sea air and exploring the volcanic beach. You can also rent a car when you arrive, the prices are not very high but be careful when choosing your rental company and the insurances offered. It sits next to the Church of St. Benedict, so optimize your time with these two idyllic places to see in Catania. Located in-between the Roman Theatre and the Giardini Bellini, the Via dei Crociferi features four spectacular churches The Church of St. Francesco Borgia, The Church of San Benedetto, The Church of St. Francis Assisi and the Church of San Giuliana. Can you recommend a good beach (or beaches) close to Catania? Romantic Weekend Getaways Ontario: Couples Trip Guide, Gay Pride In Toronto + The 10 Best Things to Do in Toronto. This city was originally founded as a Greek colony in ancient times and since then has been part of numerous Empires and cultures including the Carthaginians, the Roman Republic, the Ostrogoths and eventually became part of the Kingdom of Italy. cirneco catania tripadvisor Eat Pizzeria is a casual, on-the-go cafe that gives you a proper experience of Italian pizza. If you have any question, dont hesitate to ask me. catania tripadvisor Furthermore there is an ornate bandstand and many varieties of tree. Furthermore, there is also the San Benedetto Arch and the cloisters of the Jesuit College. Probably the best option in terms of safety! Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. I book my day trip to Taormina and Etna now! You can stroll around the large trees and many fountains or simply sit on a bench in the shade. Its simply amazing! Via Crociferi is the 2nd street to walk along during your visit to Catania. However, the Church of the Badia di SantAgata is most noted for its magnificent panoramicviews from Cataniacenter, where onlookers can see the towering Mount Etna to the north.