The best things to do in Catania, Sicily

Catania is the main city in eastern Sicily. And though it’s larger than the other popular tourist spots in this region, it’s still easy to explore the main sights in a day or two. We had one night in Catania following our two days in Taormina. But we were easily able to fit in all the things we wanted to see – and enjoy some of the best pasta I’ve ever eaten. This is how we spent one day and night in Catania. 

Teatro Massimo Bellini

Our hotel was next to Piazza Vincenzo Bellini, which is home to the impressive Teatro Massimo Bellini. The 19th century building is close to the city centre, and is sometimes open for visitors. Though it wasn’t during our trip. Instead, we took in the architecture from the outside, and enjoyed the sunny Piazza with its fountain at the centre. 

Piazza del Duomo

The main square in Catania is the Piazza del Duomo. At the southern end of Via Etnea, this is where you’ll find the Cattedrale di Sant'Agata, Fountain of the Elephant, and Palazzo degli Elefanti town hall. The cathedral is only open in the morning and evening, so if you want to visit the stunning inside, make sure you plan your visit around its visitor opening hours.

Via Etnea

This major shopping street is named for its clear view straight to Mount Etna. If you walk north along Via Etnea from the Piazza del Duomo, you’ll get to the remains of an ancient Roman amphitheatre that can be viewed from the road. It’s a busy street filled with shops, cafes, and restaurants – but it feels a bit like the Italian version of London’s Oxford Street that’s rarely visited by locals.

Villa Bellini

To the west of Via Etnea is Villa Bellini, a peaceful garden with fountains, an observation point, and playgrounds. It’s a peaceful place to relax away from the busy city streets. 

Greek-Roman theatre 

If you like ancient architecture, Sicily is the place for you. On our way back to the city centre from Villa Bellini, we stopped at another open-air amphitheatre, the Greek-Roman theatre of Catania. Here you can see the ancient remains that were excavated in the 19th and 20th century. Entry is €6 for adults and we spent about 30 minutes in the grounds. 

Eating and drinking 

If you’re looking for authentic Sicilian food with a modest price tag, Catania is the place to find it. 

Our first stop was Trattoria U Fucularu. A pasta place with outdoor seating in the shadow of the Chiesa Santa Maria dell'Ogninella. We had the caprese salad, porcini and pistachio tagliatelle, and pistachio and Gorgonzola pasta and it was the best food we ate all weekend. 

For dinner we ate at Sette Piu, a pizza spot that was packed with locals even on a Sunday night. They serve massive burgers and pizzas with creative toppings, as well as the classics. 

For drinks, don’t miss Razmataz for local black grape wine, and Kia Ora for cocktails made with local spirits. 

Planning a holiday to Sicily? Check out our full travel itinerary here.