Points of interest

Piazza Duomo, the focal point of the city, is a grand square, rebuilt in the Baroque style in the 18th century after the terrible earthquake that devastated the city in the late 1600s. Here you can see the baroque facade of the Cathedral dedicated to St. Agatha, founded by Ruggero D’Altavilla as a fortified church in the 11th and rebuilt on the rubble of the Norman cathedral destroyed by the earthquake of 1693. The facade, renovated by architect Giovanbattista Vaccarini, has an unusual scheme based on the use of lava stone black and limestone white, like many of Catania’s 18th-century buildings. Inside, you can admire the tomb of Vincenzo Bellini and the chapel of St. Agatha, where the relics of the patron saint are kept. Below the decking of the Cathedral and the square you can admire the old Roman remains of what were once the Terme Achilleane.

In the center of the Piazza Duomo, in 1735, Vaccarini arranged, on a bordered base with small decorative fountains, an ancient elephant in lava stone: u Liotru, symbol of Catania, which supports an Egyptian obelisk and on top of the agatini symbols. On the north side is the Town Hall (Elephant Palace), in front of it the Amenano Fountain and the Seminary of the Clerics which supports, on the one hand, the ancient Gate of Charles V, one of the ancient entrances of the city walls and on the other, Porta Uzeda, dedicated Spanish Vicerè. Nearby, you can also enjoy the city’s exuberant fish market: la Pescheria.

To the north of here, a second impressive square, University Square, which gives on Via Etnea, the city’s main shopping street.

In Piazza Federico II of Svevia, the Ursino Castle stands. Built at the behest of the Svevel Emperor, it is now Catania’s most iconic museum. Inside, you can be fascinated by the Roman and Greek artefacts, metal engravings and the Art Gallery which includes paintings of great artistic value. The castle often hosts temporary exhibitions.

In Piazza San Francesco, inside the historic Palazzo Gravina Cruyllas, is Vincenzo Bellini’s house-museum, where a large collection of prints and autographed scores of the great composer are preserved, as well as his original harpsichord.

The same building houses the Emilio Greco Museum where there is a collection of lithographs and etchings of the artist. In front of the building is the Church of St. Francis of Assisi at the Immaculate where some of the Characteristics of the Feast of St. Agatha are preserved. Along Via Vittorio Emanuele is the former Benedictine convent of San Placido, inside the 18th century cloister you can still see the ruins of a balcony of the Platamone Palace, now home to the Culture Directorate of Catania.

Continuing in this direction you can admire the remains of the Greco-Roman theatre and those of the Odeon. To the north, the Church of Santa Maria della Rotonda, originally a Roman bath.  Traces from the 2nd century BC are found in Piazza Stesicoro, in the ancient Roman Amphitheatre, which welcomed up to 15,000 spectators.  For a more modern theatrical experience, you can admire the Teatro Massimo Bellini in the square of the same name.

Via Crociferi, deserves special attention for its late Baroque style, declared by Unesco “Heritage of Humanity”.

Here you can admire the beautiful churches of San Benedetto and San Giuliano. Other wonderful examples of baroque are the Church of St. Francis Borgia, attached to the former jesuit convent.

The Church of San Nicola l’Arena is located in Dante Square, whose facade was never completed and the adjacent Benedictine Monks Monastery, one of the largest monastic complexes in Europe, extremely interesting for the fine Baroque ornaments of its balconies and windows, as well as, for its two inner cloisters, which show splendid lodges.