Metropolitan City of Catania

Catania's Unmissable Essentials

Catania’s landscape is defined by the volcanic stone of Mount Etna and the intricate Sicilian Baroque of its historic core. This selection highlights the UNESCO-listed Benedictine Monastery and the Cattedrale di Sant'Agata, which anchors the central Piazza del Duomo. Architectural landmarks like the Palazzo Biscari and Teatro Massimo Bellini showcase the city’s 18th-century reconstruction. Natural sites include the active craters of Etna, reached via cableway, and the basalt formations of the Alcantara Gorge, alongside the Norman coastal fortifications in Aci Castello.

Catania's Unmissable Essentials — Map

E. Versluis / CC-BY-SA

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Catania Cathedral

The Metropolitan Cathedral of Saint Agatha, usually known as the Catania Cathedral, is a Roman Catholic cathedral in Catania, Sicily,…

Hein56didden / CC BY-SA 3.0

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Etna

Mount Etna, or simply Etna, is an active stratovolcano on the east coast of Sicily, Italy, in the Metropolitan City of Catania, between the…

Luca Aless / CC BY-SA 4.0

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Elefant Fountain

The Elephant Fountain is a monument located in the center of Piazza del Duomo in the Sicilian city of Catania, designed by architect…

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Benedictine Monastery of Catania

Inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage List, this monastery is a must-see! Visit the church, ancient Roman house and the museum of art, too.

Louisvhn / Public domain

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Massimo Bellini Theatre

The Teatro Massimo Bellini is an opera house located on Piazza Vincenzo Bellini in Catania, Sicily, southern Italy.

Luca Aless / CC BY-SA 4.0

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Piazza del Duomo, Catania

Piazza del Duomo is the main city square in Catania, Italy, flanked by both the centers of civic and religious power.

G.dallorto / Attribution

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Biscari Palace

The Palazzo Biscari is a monumental private palace located on Via Museo Biscari in Catania, Sicily, southern Italy.

Berthold Werner / CC BY-SA 3.0

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Basilica della Collegiata

The Ancient Royal and Eminent Basilica Collegiate of Our Lady of the Alms, better known as Basilica della Colleggiata, is a church in…

Amarvudol / CC BY-SA 3.0

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Funivia dell'Etna

This cableway ascends from Rifugio Sapienza at 1,923 meters to an altitude of 2,500 meters on Mount Etna. It provides the primary access point for trekking expeditions and 4x4 bus tours toward the volcano’s active summit craters.

Berthold Werner / CC BY-SA 3.0

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Fontana dei Delfini

Designed by architect Giovanni Battista Vaccarini in the 18th century, this fountain stands in Piazza Vincenzo Bellini. It features a sculptural group of dolphins and was originally located in the cloister of the Badia di Sant'Agata.

Anthos / CC BY-SA 2.5

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The Staircase of Santa Maria del Monte

Scalinata di Santa Maria del Monte is a set of world-famous steps in Caltagirone, Sicily, Italy.

Giovanni Dall'Orto / Attribution

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Badia di Sant'Agata

Badia di Sant'Agata or Abbey of St Agatha refers to an 18th-century Roman Catholic church and attached female convent located on Via…

Anders Bagnegaard Kristensen / CC-BY-SA

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Alcantara Gorge

The river Alcantara creates a beuatiful natural scenery, winding among rocky cliffs and cascading on several waterfalls.

gnuckx / CC BY 2.0

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Amenano Fountain

Constructed in 1867 by sculptor Tito Angelini, this Carrara marble fountain represents the Amenano River. The water spills into the riverbed of the Amenano, which flows underground following the volcanic eruption of 1669.

Mauro Cacciola / CC BY 2.0

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Castello Normanno

The Castello Normanno, or alternatively the Castello di Aci, is a castle in Aci Castello in the Metropolitan City of Catania in Sicily,…