Catania, how to enjoy a day in the city
Let’s suppose that you have just a few hours free. Maybe you had a meeting or who knows, a stopover at the airport. You are in Sicily, more accurately you are in Catania. So, what can you do and visit in the city? Sicilian Secrets gives you a couple of hints to enjoy a day on the slopes of Etna.
When you stop in Catania, even for a few hours or for a day, you can definitely explore the city. From the morning to the night, it offers a lot to do and to see. From the slopes of Mount Etna to the sea, open your eyes and let your heart be surprised by the unique mixes and contrasts that Catania gifts you. Here is a short guide to discover a little bit more about the queen of the Ionian coast.
In the morning
The sun is high in the sky, you love art and history. There’s no better place to start the tour than the Cathedral in Baroque style (UNESCO Heritage). You can take a sit in one of the historic bars located in Piazza del Duomo and taste something typical. Then you can walk down to Piazza Stesicoro and via dei Crociferi where you can discover some more churches such as San Benedetto.
In the afternoon
Do you want to see something very peculiar? Don’t miss the so-called A’ Piscaria, the old fish market that is close to the monumental Piazza del Duomo. Get lost into the colors of this place, listen to the voices of people around you, feel the real flavor of Catania. After that, enjoy the afternoon and do shopping! Are you ready to swipe your credit card? Have a walk in via Etna, the most fashionable area of the city.
Sunset time
And when the day is almost over, grab a drink (if you want to try a popular drink from Catania, ask for the lemon-flavored soda and salt!) and cherish the sunset in the most beautiful park of the city: Villa Bellini. Mount Etna stares in front of you, the lights start illuminating the streets, the nature around you falls asleep. This is the moment to live Catania by night.
Catania in the evening
It’s dinner time, and your goal is to find a restaurant where you can eat some delicious food. In Sicily it is pretty easy to track down a nice place but if you want to live an exclusive experience, place a reservation at Sàpìo. Why? Because, thanks to the young chef Alessandro Ingiulla, this is the first Michelin-starred restaurant in Catania.
By night
At this point, it’s up to you. Maybe you have some extra time or decided to stay overnight. In this case, take a look at the program of the most important theater of the city, Teatro Massimo Vincenzo Bellini. It’s an opera house that is dedicated to the famous composer from Catania and that was inaugurated in 1890 with his celebrated opera Norma. And it is not a coincidence if a well-know and tasty Sicilian dish is pasta alla Norma with tomato sauce and eggplants. It was invented to honor this Bellini’s opera and nowadays belongs to the traditional Sicilian cuisine.
Would you like to know something more? Don’t miss the chance to visit Catania and many other cities with Dimensione Sicilia. First departures for our tours are scheduled in March.
