Catania is one of the most important cities of the Italian island of Sicily together with Palermo. This city is located in the eastern area, between Messina and Syracuse, on the coast. It is located at the foot of Mount Etna, which is the highest active volcano in Europe. This city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is one of the Late Baroque Cities of Val di Noto.
We will see everything that can be discover in a city as beautiful and authentic as Catania, which has Greek and Roman roots in its history and was buried by lava up to seven times, hence the remains of other civilizations could not be fully rescued. It is also a city that surprises with the large number of baroque and historical churches.
Piazza del Duomo
The Piazza del Duomo or the cathedral, as in other Italian cities, shows us the central point of the city. In this case we will find a square in which is the emblem of the city, the Elephant Fountain. An elephant that has been carved in black lava topped with an Egyptian-style obelisk. It is certainly a very picturesque fountain. In this square there is also the town hall building at the Palazzo deggli Elefanti and the Fontana dell'Amenano, the only point where the Amenano river rises, which was buried under lava from an eruption in the seventeenth century. This fountain is very famous and coins are thrown into it. Next to the fountain is the Palazzo dei Chierici which is linked by a passage to the Cathedral of Catania. Under the square there are also some thermal structures, the Terme Achilliane, which are accessed by a corridor from the Diocesan Museum. Three important streets also converge in this well-known square, Via Etnea, Via Garibaldi and Via Vittorio Emanuele II.
Cathedral of Santa Ágata
This cathedral is the most important religious building in the city and it has been rebuilt several times due to earthquakes and the eruptions of the Etna volcano. The original church is from the XNUMXth century and was built on the ruins of an old Roman baths. After the seventeenth century earthquake that left it in ruins, this building was rebuilt in the baroque style that we see.
Via Etna
La Via Etnea was created after the earthquake of 1693 which destroyed much of the city. This street starts from the Piazza del Duomo and along it buildings were built in the Sicilian Baroque style. It is one of its most important streets and where most of the shops are located. In addition, in this street we find up to seven churches, we must not forget that in this city there are a large number of religious buildings. There is the Church of the Minoriti, the Church of San Biagio or the Church of the Blessed Sacrament. We can also see some noble palaces such as Palazzo Gioeni, Palazzo San Demetrio or Palazzo San Giuliano.
Ursino Castle
This old castle dates from the XNUMXth century. It is a castle that has a lot of history and it was also one of the few buildings in the entire city that survived the disastrous earthquake of the seventeenth century. This castle was the seat of the Sicilian Parliament and also the residence of Frederick II of Sicily. Today there is a municipal museum and an art gallery inside. It must be said that it is curious that this castle was located on a cliff next to the sea but due to the eruptions of Etna it is today one kilometer from the sea.
Roman theater of Catania
This theater is from the XNUMXnd century AD. C. and it was built with the lava rock of Etna. The cavea and some parts of the scene are still preserved. It is near the Piazza del Duomo but it must be said that today it is a bit abandoned and has many buildings around it that make it difficult to preserve it. All in all, it is a great witness to the history of the city that is worth visiting.
Via Crociferi
This street dates back to the XNUMXth century and is another must-see in the city of Catania. It begins in Piazza San Francesco d'Assisi and is a great example of Baroque architecture typical of the city that has earned it the title of World Heritage Site. In addition, in this street we will find many religious buildings, something that is the essence of Catania. In it you can see churches such as San Benedetto, San Giuliano and San Francesco Borgia.
Excursion to Etna
If there is something that we cannot stop doing when we go to Catania it is go on an excursion to Etna. If we go on our own we can reach the base of Mount Etna, but from there, to visit the crater you have to go on guided tours. Either way, it is a unique experience.