Catania applies to become Italian Capital of Culture 2028. Let’s go!
Catania bids for Italian Capital of Culture 2028 with an ambitious, inclusive, and identity-based project. With its lava-stone Baroque, vibrant nightlife, bustling markets, and living culture, the city at the foot of Mount Etna aims to amaze Italy and rediscover itself. This is not just about paperwork and bureaucracy: here, culture is something you breathe, hear, taste. And often, fall in love with.
Catania means business. The city has officially launched its candidacy to become the Italian Capital of Culture 2028, a title that in recent years has acted as a real springboard for winning cities, bringing new opportunities, media attention, increased tourism, and renewed civic pride. The City Council, led by Mayor Enrico Trantino, has approved the guiding resolution that officially kicks off the process. The decision comes well ahead of the deadline set by the Ministry, with the goal of building a strong, shared project grounded in strategic vision and broad participation.
The path is clear: by September 25th, 2025, the candidacy dossier must be submitted. This document will outline the city’s cultural and project-based vision in detail, the planned initiatives, partnerships, financial plan, and governance model. Proposals will be evaluated by a jury of seven independent experts, prominent figures in culture, the arts, and territorial development. Catania is already on the move. In addition to establishing a municipal steering committee to coordinate the process, a public notice has been issued to select a qualified economic operator who will support the City throughout the process, from building the cultural concept to submitting the dossier, including identity storytelling, stakeholder engagement, and communication strategy.
Mayor Trantino explained the decision as follows: “We chose to invest in this project early on, to build a strong candidacy involving all the best resources of this City and not just in the cultural field. Our idea of Catania as Capital of Culture is certainly tied to the rich heritage of history, culture, and nature we’ve been blessed with, including the men and women who have honored what it means to be from Catania. But we must also look forward, focusing on innovation, digital revolution, and sustainable mobility. Our ‘Capital’ must be rooted in identity, but also inclusive, open, modern, and dynamic. We have everything it takes to succeed”. (source: comune.catania.it)
The process has just begun, but the goal is ambitious: to show the entire country that Catania is not only a Sicilian gem but a beacon for all of Italy. It’s an opportunity for growth and development, and a chance to look at this extraordinary city with fresh eyes.
Five reasons why Catania is already a capital of culture (and of our heart)
Let’s set aside the official paperwork and government tenders for a moment. Imagine you’ve got a free weekend, a craving for beauty that takes your breath away, and maybe a bit of an appetite – because yes, the food here is the stuff of dreams. Here are five reasons why Catania, Capital of Culture 2028 or not, deserves to be uncovered, loved, and maybe even longed-for.
1. Black Baroque and lava beneath your feet
Catania makes an impression at first glance. Its historic center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a Baroque masterpiece unafraid to show off its theatrical flair. But unlike other Sicilian Baroque cities, here opulence meets the black of lava stone: a visual contrast that makes it magnetic. Walking down Via dei Crociferi or pausing in front of the Cathedral of Saint Agatha is like flipping through a visual novel of history, art, and resilience. Catania has been destroyed multiple times, and each time, it’s found a way to rise more beautiful than before.
2. The night is always young
Forget cities that go quiet at sundown. In Catania, the day only ends once the heart has danced enough. Via Santa Filomena, with its lively bars and bistros, is just the beginning: here, an aperitivo turns into dinner, then into cocktails, and finally an impromptu dance under the stars. With hidden courtyards, historic palaces, and terraces overlooking Mount Etna, Catania’s nightlife is a blend of decadent elegance and Mediterranean vitality. Just like the city itself: warm, unpredictable, and impossible to resist.
3. La Pescheria Market: chaos you’ll fall for
If you love authentic places, you can’t miss La Pescheria, Catania’s historic fish market just steps from Piazza Duomo. It’s a daily ritual, a symphony of shouting, colors, and scents that stays with you. Here, fish still flop alive on the stalls, vendors sing out prices in dialect, and every corner tells a tale of a Sicily that defies time. It’s also the perfect spot for a first taste of Catania’s street food: arancini (yes, with an i), cipolline (little onions), cartocciate, and of course, a granita with brioche.
4. A culture that never sleeps
Theatres, museums, independent galleries: Catania’s cultural scene is vibrant, youthful, and often daring. The Teatro Massimo Bellini, dedicated to the great composer Vincenzo Bellini, is one of Italy’s most elegant opera houses. But the real surprise lies in the grassroots spaces: former industrial warehouses turned cultural hubs, artist residencies welcoming creatives from around the world, festivals bringing literature, cinema, and music to public squares and courtyards. Catania has understood that culture isn’t just about preserving the past, it’s about creating the present.
5. Mount Etna: the living mountain
It’s not just a volcano: it’s the city’s beating heart. A constant, sometimes overwhelming presence, but always fascinating. Etna marks the seasons of Catania, inspires stories, blesses the land with fertility, and when angered, reminds everyone of nature’s power. From the city, it takes less than an hour to reach Rifugio Sapienza, the starting point for excursions to the summit craters. It’s a nearly mystical experience, equal parts adrenaline and poetry.
Looking to 2028 with bright eyes
Bidding to become Italian Capital of Culture 2028 is more than just a chance to win a title. It’s an opportunity to tell a story, to build connections, to imagine a better future starting from deep roots. Catania is doing it with courage and a touch of the visionary boldness that makes it so special. Because in the end, like all cities that truly know how to love, Catania doesn’t try to please everyone, but only those who know how to truly appreciate her. And we, from now until September 2025, can’t wait to see how the story unfolds.
