In the Sicilian city of Catania, you'll find an active volcano and a charming historical center. There's a lot to see and do in this UNESCO World Heritage Site, so we've rounded up some of the best things to do.
The cathedral and Piazza del Duomo in central Catania are a must-see. The opulent interior is a testament to Baroque architecture.
1. Giardini Bellini
Located in the heart of Catania's old town, Giardini Bellini is a pleasant and relaxing place to walk around. It also offers a great view of Mount Etna, which makes it a popular tourist destination.
Take a stroll through the botanical gardens in this park, which has a great variety of plants from all over the world. The garden is very well organized and enjoyable to walk around.
If you're looking to get to Giardini Bellini from Catania, use Moovit's transit app to find the best bus, train or metro route. We make riding to Giardini Bellini easy, which is why over 1.5 million users, including users in Catania, trust Moovit as their go-to transit app.
The city of Catania may not have the same high-end shopping street as its more famous cousins of Cefalu, Taormina and Syracuse, but it does have a few gems. One of these is the 'Liotru' - a curious black lava sculpture of an elephant carrying an obelisk - that has been revered by locals for centuries.
2. Teatro Massimo Bellini
Named after local-born composer Vincenzo Bellini, this majestic opera house is filled with exquisite music. You can see a performance at the theater, which opened in 1890, or take a guided tour of the building itself.
The neo-Baroque facade is inspired by the work of Jacopo Sansovino, while the hall with four tiers of boxes is one of the most beautiful of the 19th century in Italy. The ceiling depicts scenes from four of Bellini’s most well-known operas and was frescoed by the painter Ernesto Bellandi.
For more than a century, this opera house has hosted performances of Bellini’s music by some of the world’s best musicians. In 2001, for Bellini’s bicentennial, the theater underwent a major renovation.
3. Teatro Romano
Dedicated to the famous Catania opera composer Vincenzo Bellini, this grand Sicilian Baroque-style theatre is a must-see. Its tiers of ornate galleries rise to a golden dome with frescoed medallions displaying scenes from Bellini's most famous works.
This impressive monument was built in 1768 and is a sight to behold. The inscription underneath the arch is "Melior di cinere surgo" ('I can be born again from the ashes even more beautiful') and it stands in honour of Catania's resilience after devastating earthquakes destroyed much of the city.
This is one of the most popular places to visit in Catania and is a great place to start a walking tour. It's also a smart spot to get a bite to eat or drink in after you've explored the sights around it.
4. Museo Diocesano
Located adjacent to the Cathedral of Sant'Agata, Museo Diocesano is one of the most recommended places to visit in Catania. It's not a very large museum, but it does feature a collection of religious artifacts and paintings.
The main section houses sacred furnishings from the Cathedral of Catania as well as a variety of items that belong to other churches in the city and its province of Etna. This is a great place to see ceremonial silverware, saint carvings, dedicating paintings and dresses and other church utensils.
The other part of the museum is dedicated to art and sculptures, which are housed in a number of rooms on the ground floor. Here you can find a series of works by various artists, including paintings by Fra' Angelico and Lorenzetti, as well as works by local boys Luca Signorelli and Pietro da Cortona.
5. Mount Etna
Mount Etna is one of the most active volcanoes in Europe, and it's a must-see when you visit Sicily. It's easy to reach by cable car or 4x4 vehicles, and it's a great day trip from Catania.
Aside from its summit craters, Mount Etna has numerous vents on its flanks. These are a mix of cinder and lava cones, as well as the debris of frequent pyroclastic flows of gas, ash and lapilli.
Eruptions on the volcano vary in size and intensity, with most occurring at the summit. These eruptions are explosive and spectacular, but usually don't threaten the surrounding inhabited area.
