Hi, I’m Roberta, a native of Catania!
I love talking about the places I visit, but today I want to dedicate this space in the blog to my Catania.
A city that will transmit you many emotions with its infinite stories that will leave an indelible mark in your memory.
A bit of history
“Melior de cineresurgo”, “I rise from the ashes more beautiful than before” is the phrase carved on Catania’s Porta Garibaldi, one of the most beautiful entrances to the historic centre.
The motto of the magnificent phoenix sums up the history of a city that has had to be continually reinvented: destroyed nine times by earthquakes, eruptions, invasions and rebuilt nine times more beautiful than before.
The last time it was rebuilt was in 1693, when a violent earthquake razed it almost completely to the ground. The city was at the height of the Baroque period, an imposing and unique style that has managed to survive thanks to the care of its inhabitants and today represents an architectural complex of exceptional value protected by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.
What to see in Catania
Spend a few days in Catania and enjoy the Baroque architectural wonders, but also the liveliness of the popular markets, the wild and fiery beauty of Mount Etna (read the article here) or the clear sea of the coast.
Here is my list of 7 must-see places:
Piazza del Duomo
The beating heart of Catania welcomes all visitors with “O Liotru”, the little elephant that brings good luck and is the symbol of Catania. There are many legends about him and he is considered to be the magic protector from the eruptions of Mount Etna; every self-respecting citizen of Catania has a statue of him at home.
The little elephant stands right in the centre of the square, framed by the Palazzo degli Elefanti (Town Hall), the Palazzo dei Chierici Uniti and the Cathedral. In front of the Town Hall is the Amenano fountain, the river that flows beneath Catania.
If you find yourself passing through Catania on the 5th of February, you will realise the love that the people of Catania feel for the city’s patron saint, Saint Agatha, to whom the cathedral is dedicated.
Built several times, it has nevertheless preserved a majestic interior that will leave you speechless. Protected behind a gate is St Agatha’s chapel with the chamber containing her relics, and right in front of the altar is the tomb of Vincenzo Bellini, a musician born in Catania.
The Fish Market
La Pescheria is the historic fish market that has not lost its ancient folklore.
If you want to immerse yourself in the oldest and most characteristic place in Catania, you absolutely must take a walk among the many stalls of the fish market where merchants invite people to buy fresh fish.
Lots of people crowd the stalls all day long, not just to buy but to immerse themselves in the spirit of the Catanese.
Let yourself be overwhelmed by the frenetic movement, the shouting, the strong smells of the fish and the typical red tents that colour the market sky.
Via Etnea
From Piazza del Duomo stretches Catania’s most important and scenic street: Via Etnea, which takes its name from the fact that it runs in the direction of Mount Etna, always visible during the 3 km walk.
An almost entirely pedestrian street where the people of Catania go to shop and to lose themselves in the beauty of Sicilian baroque, a style that characterises almost all the buildings on the street.
Massimo Vincenzo Bellini Theatre
Catania could not fail to pay tribute to its most famous son, the composer Vincenzo Bellini. And it did so in 1890, 55 years after his death at the age of just 34, with Norma, his most famous opera.
Everyone was there that night: Luigi Capuana, Giovanni Verga, Federico De Roberto, nobles and ministers of the Kingdom. At the end of the performance, the people also came in to admire the beautiful theatre. Its beauty and majesty has remained intact since then and great fans are still enraptured by its timeless beauty.
Via dei Crociferi
It is not known where the name comes from but it is a very famous and popular street in Catania.
The street is accessed through the Arco di San Benedetto, which connects the church of the same name with the Convento delle Benedettine. The church is famous for the Stairway of the Angel, a marble staircase with beautiful statues of angels, an example of the Baroque wonders that have survived in the city.
The Arches of the Navy
Positioned beyond the Walls of Charles V near the Port of Catania in popular jargon, the Arches of the Navy indicate the Catania-Siracusa railway viaduct, built to cope with the growing trade network of sulphur and minerals that developed in eastern Sicily in the second half of the 19th century.
The engineer Petit who designed the construction drew on the colours of the city: grey (predominant) and white, in fact, in the 56 arches volcanic rock (dark) alternates with limestone (light).This has now become the official entrance to the city.
The Ursino Castle
Built at the behest of Frederick II between 1239 and 1250, the Ursino Castle was a fortress to defend against outside attacks.
Due to the eruption of 1669, the lava flowing south of the castle, where the ‘Guardian Angels’ district is today, towards the sea, enveloped it from the west and east with two arms of magma.
Despite this, the building was restored and turned into one of the city’s most beautiful museums, bringing together the collections of the Benedictine Monastery, part of that of Prince Biscari, and part of those donated to it by Baron Zappalà-Asmundo.
Are you starting to breathe in the past of this wonderful city?
I can’t wait to start normal life again, how many stories can we still discover? Because travelling is life!
Did you like this article? Make a quote for your next car rental here or discover the other destinations that have fascinated our travelers here.