Experience the best of Catania
Catania, on Sicily's east coast, is a black lava-stone city beneath Mount Etna, with a noisy fish market, Baroque squares and a long seafront.
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Catania lies at the foot of Mount Etna, the active volcano whose lava reached the city in 1669, and an earthquake in 1693 flattened it. Rebuilt in the eighteenth century in the Baroque style, it uses black lava stone for walls and paving, set against white limestone. The Piazza del Duomo has an elephant of lava stone carrying an obelisk, the cathedral of Sant'Agata, and a fountain.
La Pescheria, the fish market behind the cathedral, runs from the early morning, and Via Etnea runs straight north with a view of the volcano at its end. The Roman theatre and Castello Ursino are tucked among later buildings. Etna can be explored by cable car and trail, Taormina's Greek theatre lies up the coast, and Syracuse's island of Ortygia is about an hour south.
Pasta alla Norma, with tomato, fried aubergine and salted ricotta, is named after Bellini's opera and was born in the city, and granita with a brioche for breakfast is the local summer habit. Arancini, fried rice balls, are made here in a cone shape. The Feast of Sant'Agata in early February fills the streets with candlelit processions, and the wines of Etna's slopes are poured everywhere.
- Free cancellation on 90% of experiences
- 4.8 across the top 24
Top 10 attractions in Catania
Number 1Piazza Duomo
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Number 2Via Crociferi (Via dei Crociferi)
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Number 3Gambino Winery (Vini Gambino)
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Number 4Ursino Castle (Castello di Ursino)
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Number 5Via Etnea
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Number 6Fera 'O Luni (Monday Fair)
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Number 7Villa Bellini
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Number 8Massimo Bellini Opera House (Teatro Massimo Bellini)
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Number 9Benedictine Monastery of San Nicolò l'Arena (Monastero Benedettini di San Nicolò l'Arena)
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Number 10Catania Archaeological Park (Parco Archeologico Greco-Romano di Catania)
Guided tours in Catania
73
Likely to sell outFree cancellation
Signature experiences in Catania
Go beyond Catania
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Taormina · 42 kmIsola Bella
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Taormina · 42 kmCorso Umberto I
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Syracuse · 51 kmMercato di Ortigia
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Syracuse · 51 kmOrtygia (Ortigia)
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Ragusa · 72 kmChurch of San Giuseppe (Chiesa di San Giuseppe)
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Ragusa · 72 kmScicli
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Messina · 87 kmFountain of Neptune (Fontana di Nettuno)
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Messina · 87 kmBell Tower and Astronomical Clock (Orologio Astronomico)
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Cefalù · 110 kmCefalù Cathedral (Duomo di Cefalù)
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Cefalù · 110 kmBastione Capo Marchiafava
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Agrigento · 135 kmValley of the Temples (Valle dei Templi)
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Agrigento · 135 kmHouse Museum of Soap (Casa Museo del Sapone)
Questions about Catania
- What is there to do in Catania?
- We list 357 experiences in Catania. The largest groups are day trips (133), city tours (29).
- What are the top attractions in Catania?
- Ranked by the experiences that visit them, the top attractions in Catania are Piazza Duomo, Via Crociferi (Via dei Crociferi) , Gambino Winery (Vini Gambino), Ursino Castle (Castello di Ursino).
- What is the most popular experience in Catania?
- By number of traveller reviews it is "Etna Morning Trip", rated 4.7 out of 5 from 1,397 reviews.
- How long do tours and tickets in Catania take?
- The typical experience in Catania lasts about 6 hours; the middle half run between 3 hours and 8 hours.
- Can I cancel a booking in Catania?
- The operator lists free cancellation on 90% of the 357 experiences we hold for Catania. The cut-off differs by experience and is shown on each product page before you choose a date.
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