Catania Things to Do

The gate is a result of the urban planning project that the Duke of Camastra initiated after the city was destroyed in the 1693 earthquake.

Via Etnea, the city's main shopping street, ends up here after crossing Piazza del Duomo. Outside the gate are the Marina Arches (Archi della Marina), where the railroad runs.

The city hall is situated on one side of the wonderful Piazza del Duomo (Cathedral Square), just a stone's throw from the Marina Arches (Archi della Marina).

Like most of the city centre, the building was built after the earthquake that devastated this area of Italy in 1693. Its main architect was Giovan Battista Vaccarini, who designed many of the most relevant buildings you see today in Catania. The building was built in late-baroque style, but with an added touch of rationale (see the layout of the windows).

Don't miss the entrance hall where you can see two perfectly preserved 18th century carts that are used once a year by the city's authorities, during the celebrations of St. Agata.

One of the main square in Catania, just off of Via Etnea. There's the 18th century elephant fountain made from lava supporting an Egyptian obelisk on its back and also the Municipio dating to 1741 built by Giovanni Battista Vaccarini.

This statue, surrounded with lovely lawn, is right in the centre of Piazza Duomo and used to be our meeting point. Our guide told us that the elephant is the symbol of Catania but that's all he knew of this statue !

... or actually the ruins of a castle in Catania. In the evening, one night, we went with the group for a pizza and I saw this castle. No one could tell me anything of it however, and I searched on the internet as well, but couldn't find anything, so if you can tell me something about it, I'd really appreciate!

There were lots of people here and we also enjoyed a nice walk here along the promenade.

I took this lovely photo of the Piazza Duomo from my hotel room because our hotel was right in the centre of Catania. The Cathedral is dedicated to St. Agatha and in here you can see her relics and other tombs of other important persons.

This beautiful Santa Maria la Nuova Cathedral is world famous for its mosaics in the interior. It is open from 9:00 to 1:00 all week and also from 3 to 7 in the afternoon from April to October only and you must go to see this beautiful cathedral if you are in Monreale.

Randazzo is not very far from Catania and it was a small beautiful and quiet village in the country - perfect for a relaxing afternoon. We went on Saturday and there was the market which was very large and great fun too, which at that time was my only interest :) There are many places of interest there, which one could visit -these are the Vagliasindi Museum in Piazza Rabata, the 13th century Porta Aragonese, the Palazzo Scala, the Palazzo Finocchiaro, the Palazzo Lanza, the Civil Natural Science Museum and many churches as well.