Sightseeing in Catania - what to see. Complete travel guide

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 been simply buried under the layers of ash. However, due to hard-working and diligent inhabitants of this town, historical and architectural sights of the city were kept in safety.

The ancient Roman theatre is the main architectural sight of this town. This facility can gather around 7 thousand of people. Nearby the theatre is located Odeon that has been used as the place of repetitions of male chorus. While making a walk on Piazza Stezicoro you can see the ruins of the ancient Roman amphitheater, the building of which took place in the 2nd century. The height of the ancient building was over 30 meters and the amphitheater’s diameter estimated 71 meter. Such a large-scale facility could easily seat 16 thousands of viewers.

One more picturesque square is named Duomo. Here is located a fountain made in the shape of an elephant. This huge and strong animal is the symbol of Catania starting from 1200. The choice of the symbol is logical as in ancient times there have been many elephants on the territory of the modern city. They protected the locals from wild animals and were true helpers in farming. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

The largest religious sight of the city is Catania Cathedral, the building of which finished a thousand years ago.

Besides rich cultural program Catania offers its guests wide choice of entertainments. Tourists will find here a large choice of clubs and restaurants. Nightlife is so usual and ordinary here that many public houses work round-the-clock. Theatrical art connoisseurs will not get bored in Catania as well as there are 25 theaters in this city and each of them is ready to entertain its visitors every day.

One of the main symbols of the city is the beautiful Cathedral of St. Agatha, named after the patroness of the city. The very first temple on this site was built in the 11th century. It was built on the ruins of the ancient Roman baths. The first temple was reminiscent of its military fortress. Despite the fact that the structure was powerful and reliable, the temple was completely destroyed twice during an earthquake. The cathedral, which guests of the city can see today, was built in the 17th century by a project of the famous architect D.V. Vaccarini. It is a striking example of Sicilian baroque.

One of the most attractive places in the city for hiking is the historic Via Etnea. A significant part of the buildings on this street was erected in the 17th century. In those days, the city literally lay in ruins after another major earthquake. Many of the buildings represented here managed to preserve their original appearance. One of the main features of this street is the pavement. It is laid out with an unusual cobble of hardened lava, which was specially delivered to the city from the slopes of Etna.

On the territory of the historical district of Catania is the Benedictine Monastery. It is one of the most famous landmarks of the city and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The exact date of the construction of this monastery is unknown. Various sources say that it was erected at the turn of the 15th - 16th centuries. The monastery is a complex architectural complex. On its territory, there are many farm buildings and several churches. The historical building is not empty; it houses the University of Catania. The cells of the monks today are equipped with teachers’ cabinets, and the old churches were converted to classrooms.

Lovers of walks in historical places will surely like the majestic Castle of Ursino. It was built in the 13th century and does not cease to amaze with its impregnable air. Once, the fortress had a very important strategic importance. However over time, like many other medieval structures, it came to desolation. In the 30s of the last century, the fortress was completely reconstructed. Now it houses an interesting museum. Here is a large collection of archaeological finds, as well as works of art.