OrangeSmile Tours Best destinations around the world - Travel Guide
Catania

Culture of Catania. Places to visit - old town, temples, theaters, museums and palaces

Catania street scenes Cathedral Square is known as a starting point for the majority of touristic routes. The square is also the location of the main symbol of Catania – a fountain with a black elephant. The beautiful fountain with a sculptural composition made of black basalt is a real work of art. One can endlessly admire its graceful shapes. Not far from the square you will find the main religious attraction of Catania – St. Agatha Cathedral. The church is named after the patron saint of the city. The construction of the cathedral was started in the 11th century. By the way, the cathedral t is located on the site of an ancient term. The facade of the building is made in Baroque style. The cathedral stores a huge number of various religious artifacts.
The city is located in the eastern part of Sicilia, just near Etna volcano. The life of the city is fully dependent on the mood of the glorious volcano. During its long history Catania has … Open
The old chapel and the frescoes of the 18th century are considered the main decorations of the church. There is also a secret room in the cathedral. This room stores the main artifact - a golden statue of St. Agatha. Travellers will find three small churches near the cathedral. All the churches are also dedicated to St. Agatha. Ursino Castle is another unique historical object that is popular with tourists. The construction of the castle took place in the middle of the 13th century. This powerful fortification has been kept in great condition till our days. The eruption of Etna in 1669 was the most serious challenge for the fortress.
One third of the building was destroyed under pressure of lava. However, by the end of the 19th century all restoration works were completed. Today the castle is home to the Museum of Catania, the main pride of which is a collection of archaeological artifacts and works of art of the Renaissance style. Fans of walks to historical sites are recommended to visit the ancient Roman amphitheater, which is located near Stesicoro Square. The amphitheater is a massive elliptical arena, the larger diameter of which estimates 125 meters. Copyright www.orangesmile.com
Catania is considered to be an ideal place for outdoor activities and sports, a lot of exciting entertainment can be found here for tourists with children. They should definitely visit the … Open
This grandiose structure was built in the 2nd century. The spacious arena of the amphitheater can accommodate more than 15,000 spectators. According to historical records, during the period of the early Middle Ages the amphitheater lost its original meaning and for a long time it was used as a quarry. After the earthquake of 1693 the amphitheater was almost completely destroyed, and its site was used to build a large military parade. Archaeologists discovered the amphitheater only in the 18th century. It became available for public only in 1907. Mount Etna is considered the most important natural landmark of this place. The volcano attracts fans of ecotourism and hiking from all over the world.
In the section below, you can get one of our excursion, activities or city discovery tours over Catania and surroundings. Our website offers 10-30% lower ticket prices, when compared to the offline purchase on the spot.

City tours, excursions and tickets in Catania and surroundings

Catania - guide chapters 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

What to visit during two-day excursion in Catania

Piazza Del Duomo
Sant’Agata
Caltagirone
Museo Civico Belliniani
Where: Piazza San Francesco 3, Catania; Telephone: +39 095 715 05 35;
The Roman Theatre, Catania
Where: Via Vittorio Emanuele260 Catania, Catania;
Reference information
Map of all churches
Cathedrals and basilicas near Catania
♥   Basilica Santuario di Maria Santissima Annunziata al Carmine, Catania, 0.6 km from the center. On the map   Photo
♥   Ex Catedral S. Agata al Carcere, Catania, 0.6 km from the center. On the map   Photo
♥   Basilica di S. Filippo d’Agira, Aci San Filippo, 10.2 km from the center. On the map   Photo
♥   Basilica di S. Caterina, Pedara, 13 km from the center. On the map   Photo
♥   Basilica di S. Sebastiano Martire, Acireale, 13.6 km from the center. On the map   Photo
♥   Basilica Cattedrale di Maria SS. Annunziata, Acireale, 13.8 km from the center. On the map   Photo
♥   Basilica Santuario di Maria Santissima dell’Elemosina, Biancavilla, 25.4 km from the center. On the map   Photo

Unique spots in Catania and near

Palazzo Beneventano del Bosco

From the series “The Most Elegant Buildings of Baroque Architecture”
Originally in the medieval times there was a local government. At the end of the 18th century, it was rebuilt in a residential house. This period was crucial for the palace because right at that time it got its unique Baroque features. As hundred years ago, the façade of the building is decorated with columns and sculptures compositions. They are made in the original style that looks great thanks to the play of light and shadow and remoulds the shape of the palace. … Read further

Teatro Greco Antico di Taormina

From the series “Ancient Amphitheaters and Arenas, That Are Still Operational”
If you stay at one of the spectator places of the ancient theater, you can admire the picturesque panoramic view of the coast and Etna volcano. The amphitheater in Taormina was significantly expanded in the era of ancient Rome. In its arena bloody battles of gladiators were held. Modern travellers will also have an opportunity to touch the culture of ancient times. The ancient arena remains a permanent venue for interesting cultural events. For several years the amphitheater has been used for the international festival of arts "Taormina Arte". … Read further
Car rental on OrangeSmile.com Rentals in Catania

Hilton builds third luxury hotel in Kyoto

It will welcome its first guests in 2024. 313 rooms of various categories will be available, the interior of rooms and hotel spaces will become one of the main features of the high-class hotel. When decorating the rooms, it is planned to use local textiles, which are famous for their high quality and are considered to be one of the best in the world. Read this

19.03.2024

Photogallery of cultural heritage of Catania

Landmarks of culture on Catania map: art-galleries, monuments, palaces, etc

Address/Sight name City/Region Country Within radius, km
 Types of touristic objects to search for
Hotels & Car rental
Carhire locations
0 star
1 star
2 stars
3 stars
4 stars
5 stars
Touristic places
Art galleries
Churches/Temples
Museums
Castles/Palaces
Monuments
Touristic areas
Sightseeings
Attractions
Attraction parks
Casino
Theaters/Cinema
Disco/Clubs
Parks
Zoo
Aqua parks
Transport
Airports
Train stations
Bus stations
Metro
Parkings
Fuel stations
Ports/Ferries
Open the list of object types
Health/Sport
Open the list of object types
Food/Money
Open the list of object types
Shopping
Open the list of object types
Beauty/Medicine
Open the list of object types
City services
Open the list of object types
Useful services

Excursions over cultural sights of neighbours of Catania

Culture guide to Catania. Which fascinating sights to visit once you are in Catania: temples, churches, museums, theaters and castles. Recommendations (with addresses, phone numbers and links) on the places 'must visit' in Catania. Plan your own city excursion by using this page info!
OrangeSmile.com - online travel reservation expert providing reliable car rental and hotel booking services. We feature more than 25.000 destinations with 12.000 rental offices and 200.000 hotels worldwide.
Secure Server
Head office
Weegschaalstraat 3, Eindhoven
5632 CW, The Netherlands
+31 40 40 150 44


Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | About us
Copyright © 2002 - OrangeSmile Tours B.V. | OrangeSmile.com | Under the direction and management of IVRA Holding B.V. - Registered at Kamer van Koophandel (KvK), The Netherlands No. 17237018