Riding excursions. Sights of skiing

Catania is convenient to use as a starting point for traveling around Sicily. Many airlines fly here, as well as ferries and trains from mainland Italy. However, tourists, as a rule, do not stay here for long, preferring to immediately go to numerous Sicilian resorts. Nevertheless, in our opinion, Catania should not be ignored. The city itself is of considerable interest. In addition, based in Catania, you can visit many of the attractions of Sicily. This method of organizing a trip is especially convenient for travelers public transport. But for those who prefer to travel by car, the ideas below may well be useful, with the only difference being that in this case you can stay not in Catania itself, but somewhere in its immediate surroundings. As for Catania, in addition to the overview of the routes, we recommend that you read the article “Where is the best place to stay in Catania”.

Let's move on to the routes. So, where can you go from Catania for one day?

Etna(Etna) is the main calling card of Sicily, and Catania is the best place to make one day excursion still not on this one dormant volcano. There are different options.

The simplest thing you can think of is a trip around Etna on the narrow-gauge railway "Circumetnea" (Ferrovia Circumetnea, see www.circumetnea.it), which, generally speaking, can be considered as a separate attraction (there are few similar roads left in Italy). Of course, you won’t be able to get to the top of the volcano this way, but you will get an excellent opportunity to visit small but very colorful towns and villages located on the slopes of Etna. The most famous of them is Randazzo(Randazzo), a walk along which is worth spending a couple of hours. But there are others: Maletto, Adrano, Paterno’ etc. In each there is something interesting (for example, Norman castles). Just keep in mind that trains do not run often. If you don’t gallop, you can really visit a maximum of two or three towns in a day.

The Circumetnea railway station in Catania is combined with the Catania Borgo metro station and is located some distance from the city center. You can get here by city buses (see www.amt.ct.it) or by metro (the only Catan metro line has 6 stations: Borgo – Giuffrida – Italia – Galatea – Stazione F.S. – Porto). By the way, you can return back to Catania not by Circumetnea, but by Trenitalia trains from Giarre-Riposto station. This will be both faster and cheaper.

Another variant - climb directly to the craters of Etna . In this case, it is more convenient to go by car, but public transport is also available. From Catania you can get to Etna in two hours by AST bus (see schedule at www.aziendasicilianatrasporti.it in the Linee e orari section; starting point is Catania, ending point is Etna). Buses depart from Piazza Papa Giovanni XXIII (opposite railway station Catania) and follow almost to the Funivia dell’Etna funicular station (see funiviaetna.com). Various continuations are possible here. Perhaps the most interesting thing is to purchase an excursion with a guide and special equipment (this way you can go where everyone else is not allowed, but this pleasure is not cheap). The funicular will take you to a height of about 2500 m. Further - on special all-terrain buses, and then even higher - on foot. An alternative is to find a guide in Catania who will not only take you to the volcano, but also tell you a lot of interesting things (there are, for example, but you can look for others if you wish).

Taormina(Taormina)- one of the most beautiful cities Sicily, and one of the most popular. There are a lot of tourists here, especially during the summer holiday season, as many come here for the day from the nearby beach resorts. However, despite the crowds (and the summer heat, if you plan to visit Sicily in the summer), Taormina is worth a visit. The place is picturesque and there are attractions: among them the Greek Theater with Etna as a decoration in the background stands out. The neighboring village of Castelmola is also worthy of attention. beautiful view to Taormina (the Ionian Sea as a background).

It is worth paying attention to the Taormina beaches. First of all this pebble beach Isola Bella, which owes its name to the small island that is so conveniently moored to the shore here. Generally speaking, in Taormina it is quite possible to combine sightseeing with a beach holiday. In other words, if in Sicily you are primarily interested in the sea and beaches, and you consider trips around the surrounding area as additional entertainment, then instead of Catania, it makes sense to stay in Taormina. (Read about where it is better to live in Taormina.) There is one drawback: hotels here are significantly more expensive than in Catania. You can save money by staying in the nearby towns of Giardini Naxos and Letojanni. It must be said that the beaches there are at least no worse than in Taormina itself: there are both pebble and sandy ones.

You can get from Catania to Taormina by train. The drive is only 40–50 minutes. True, the Taormina-Giardini railway station (common for Taormina and Giardini Naxos) is located some distance from the city center, at the foot of the cliff. Upon arrival, you will have to either take a bus or take a taxi (the walk is long and inconvenient). But buses from Catania (see www.etnatrasporti.it) arrive directly in the center of Taormina, but the ride is a little longer: about 1 hour 10 minutes.

Acireale(Acireale)- another seaside resort town. It is unlikely that it surpasses Taormina in any way, but it is also interesting to stroll through the historical center of Acireale. The most popular among tourists are the Acireale Cathedral, which resembles a castle with its bell towers, and the adjacent Cathedral Square (Piazza del Duomo), as well as the Basilica of St. Peter and Paul, facing the same square. There are other churches here, as well as several museums. In short, there are enough attractions for a trip of several hours.

From Catania to Acireale you can take the Trenitalia train in just 10–15 minutes. True, then you will have to walk to the city center for 20–30 minutes along not very picturesque streets. If you go by bus, the journey will take about 50 minutes (see www.etnatrasporti.it and www.aziendasicilianatrasporti.it), but this way you can get directly to Cathedral Square.

If desired, a trip to Acireale can be supplemented with a visit to the town Achikastello(Acicastello). It is best known for its Norman castle, which rises on a cliff jutting into the sea. It’s convenient to get here by bus: from Acireale to Achikastello it’s a 20-minute drive, and from Catania – 30 minutes (see www.aziendasicilianatrasporti.it). There is also an AMT bus between Catania and Achicatello (Linea 534, see www.amt.ct.it).

Syracuse(Siracusa), as is commonly said in such cases, is a must-see city. You can get here from Catania by rail in just over an hour. At the same time, the Syracuse train station is located within walking distance from all major attractions. Among them, I must say, there are many interesting things. This is the archaeological park of Neapolis (here, in particular, you can see the impressive size of the Greek Theater), and the early Christian catacombs of San Giovanni, and especially Ortigia - a small island connected to the mainland by two bridges (the place itself is extremely colorful and there are many attractions here ). In general, it makes sense to stay in Syracuse for a few days (more on this in more detail), especially since this city is convenient to use as a base for trips to the so-called baroque cities of the Val di Noto: Noto, Scicli, Modica, Ragusa etc. (However, if you want to visit all these cities, then ideally you should stay in one of them, for example, in Modica). But even on a one-day excursion you can see a lot in Syracuse. Just decide in advance what exactly interests you, because it’s hardly possible to do everything at once.

Caltagirone(Caltagirone), like the aforementioned Noto, Scicli, Modica and Ragusa, as well as Palazzolo Acreide, Militello in Val di Catania and Catania itself, is included in the list of Sicilian Baroque cities included in the UNESCO List of World Heritage Sites. All of them were actually rebuilt (in the late Baroque style, which is why they are called “Baroque”) after the devastating earthquake of 1693. All of them deserve attention to one degree or another. However, if we talk about one-day trips from Catania, then it is most convenient to get out either in Caltagirone or in Militello(Militello in Val di Catania). Caltagirone, whose main attraction is a staircase decorated with multi-colored majolica, is, in our opinion, more interesting. But theoretically, it is possible to create a route so as to combine visits to both of these cities within one trip.

As for transport, you can travel from Catania to Caltagirone by rail. But trains rarely run in this direction, and the journey takes almost two hours (Militello, by the way, is located on the same railway line an hour’s drive from Catania). Therefore, it makes sense to pay attention to buses (see www.etnatrasporti.it): they run more often and travel surprisingly faster - about an hour and a half to Caltagirone (a little over an hour to Militello).

All of Sicily's largest and busiest cities are located on the coast. It would seem that, Enna(Enna), located almost in the center of the island, is a wilderness, and there is nothing for tourists to do here. But! Firstly, from here - from an altitude of more than 900 meters above sea level - breathtaking views of the surrounding area open up. Secondly, there are at least two interesting attractions in Enna: the Castello di Lombardia fortress, from where the best panoramic views actually open, and the Duomo, the interior of which can surprise even seasoned travelers. In short, Enna is a great destination for a half-day trip.

It is better to go to Enna by car, although you can also get there by public transport. Moreover, at first glance it seems that this is not at all difficult if you resort to the services of railways. Enna is located halfway between Catania and Palermo. From Catania it takes no more than an hour and a half to travel. But it's not that simple. The train station is located approximately 5 km from the center of Enna Alta. You can cover this distance by local bus (see www.saisautolinee.it), but they rarely run, which is very inconvenient. Walking – uphill and mostly along a picturesque road, but completely unsuitable for pedestrians – is also difficult. Fortunately, there is a bus service between Enna and Catania (see route Enna – Outlet Dittaino – Catania, about an hour and a half ride). By bus you can go directly to the upper (old) part of Enna.

When choosing a hotel or apartment in Italy in general and in Catania in particular, use not only booking sites, but also price comparison services. We recommend Roomguru.ru.

You should do the same when searching for air tickets. Pay attention, for example, to Skyscanner.ru.

There are a lot of interesting places to see near Catania. You can get there on a budget in two ways - by regional train, which runs from Catania Central Station and which is a 15-minute walk from Cathedral Square - the historical center of Catania). There are no problems here, everything is as usual: you can buy a ticket at the box office or from a machine (I even bought it from a machine without knowing Italian - everything is logical and simple there). We buy a ticket and do not forget to validate it in a special machine, which is located at every station.

By train you can reach the cities of Messina, Taormina-Giardini Naxos, Aci Reale, Syracuse, Palermo, Enna and others without a change.

The train station (Catania Centrale) in front of it is the round square Piazza Papa Giovanni, where there are many bus stops - in the photo.

With buses, the situation is more complicated - there are several bus companies operating throughout Sicily, which have different stops and ticket offices. In general, a rather complex and stupid system, especially in Catania (another important point— you can’t buy a bus ticket in advance — you can buy it only on the day of departure and this is where difficulties arise if you have to leave early in the morning).

Let's figure it out.

Like there is no such bus station in Catania (in our understanding there is no) - you need to know where the stops are.

I'll start from the railway station. So we left the station and stood with our backs to it. In front of us will be the station square. Immediately at the exit from the station on the square there will be a taxi rank (on the left) and then parking for city buses. From the same stop you can go to the airport by bus.

In the distance on the left we see two high-rise buildings in the photo - we will need the left one, there will be a cash register in it

We go to this high-rise building - in the bottom photo it is on the left.

There are offices on the ground floor of the high-rise building - there is a ticket office for buses

Ticket office for buses - but only for the AST company - at this ticket office you can buy a ticket for the bus to Mount Etna, for the bus to the airport, and for the bus to Aci Trezza. The bottom photo shows the cash office.

Where is the AST bus stop - we return to the round station square

At the farthest end of the square from the train station there will be AST stops, with the exception of the airport bus.

On the platform there will be signs with numbers and cities indicated - on the first one, in the photo, for example, Aci Reale is indicated (from where I left for Aci Trezza).

On the platform nearby there is a bus to Mount Etna (pictured).

Now let's return again to those two high-rise buildings on the left side of the railway. station

They are located on viale della Liberta, which starts from the station square (in the photo this street is near two high-rise buildings).

We follow it for 3 minutes and in the next block there will be a long fence on the left side.

It is behind this fence that the bus station (bus station) of Catania is located - you wouldn’t even think of it right away.

We walk along the fence to the first intersection and turn left

There is also a fence here, but there is already a passage for passengers and buses (pictured)

We go inside - this is the bus station - from here we leave on all other buses to cities such as Enna, Taormina, Syracuse, Palermo and others. The platform number indicates the cities and schedule.

But there’s another problem - there are no ticket offices at the bus station. Without a ticket, you may not be seated. To Taormina - it was early in the morning - the driver sold me a ticket on the bus and the ticket office was still closed, since it was Sunday. But on the Sais bus this no longer works and only at the ticket office. There are no toilets at this station either.

It remains one of the most popular cities among tourists. Today we will tell you about the most interesting sights of Catania, which you should definitely add to your list. a tourist route while traveling to Sicily. So what to see in Catania? Let's get a look!

What to see in Catania. Table of contents

Central Cathedral Square

One of the most important, important and interesting places in modern Catania is Cathedral Square, whose original name sounds like Piazza del Duomo. We can say that it is here that stormy begins life cities. For centuries, Cathedral Square has gathered local residents and visitors to the city. Today she is symbol of Catania and guardian of the ancient traditions of the townspeople.

But, in addition to its important historical significance, the Cathedral Square of Catania is an architectural masterpiece, built by a magnificent master Giovanni Battista Vaccarini, born and gained fame in Sicily.

Main memorable places area: Porta Udzieda– city gates, erected in 1696, Cathedral, erected in 1739, church Badia di Sant'Agata, founded in 1767, and also the famous " Elephant Fountain"and the main town hall of the city, built in the first half of the eighteenth century. All these unique buildings are the work of master Vaccarini.

If you want to see all the beauty of Catania's Cathedral Square, then go there at night. Every building that has stood here for centuries is painted bright colors thanks to backlight.

Flights and accommodation in Catania

There are a great variety of hotels and guest houses of all kinds in Catania. We recommend staying closer to historical center city ​​so that you can explore the sights of Catania on foot. And in order to easily pick up necessary options tickets And housing, we suggest using the search from Aviasales&Hotellook. This search service allows you to find the best options among all verified agencies selling airline tickets and hotel rooms.

We continue the story on the topic ““!

Cathedral on the main square of Catania

Undoubtedly, one of the main decorations not only of Cathedral Square, but of the entire city, remains Cathedral of St. Agatha- patroness and protectors Catania. In the cathedral to this day the relics of the martyr lie.

The front part of the building is richly decorated with marble slabs and displays many beautiful statues, each of which contributes to the protection of Catania from wrath. Such faith in protection has been common since 1169, when Etna first began to erupt and destroyed the city's first cathedral. Then, five hundred years later, a terrible thing happened again - the cathedral collapsed and left under the rubble more than seven thousand people who were at a religious service at that moment. Today, the Cathedral still stands in the center of Catania - the current building was erected at the beginning sixteenth century.

At the main entrance to the cathedral you will see three dozen planks, on each of which you can see different scenes telling the life of Saint Agatha. All of them are collected into a full-fledged story that tells everything important about the patroness of the city.

Inside the temple there are the graves of prominent people: Vincenzo Bellini, cardinal Dusmet, as well as members of the royal families who once ruled the city and the entire Kingdom of Sicily during its heyday. Overall, the cathedral is a magnificent landmark in Catania.

"Elephant Fountain"

Everyone knows about the main symbol of Catania - “ Fountain of the Elephant" This is incredible sculptural ensemble created from blocks black frozen lava, above which rises a majestic obelisk, once brought from Egypt. On its top there is a cross, a palm branch and a lily flower, which for many years have been considered the main symbols of the Great Martyr Agatha, who defends the city. The Elephant Fountain in Catania was installed in the mid-eighteenth century. According to legend, there lived a magician in Catania Giliodorus, who knew how to turn ordinary people into animals. Someone says that it was he who created the elephant back in the eighth century in order to revive it and go on a journey on it to the city of the kings and the capital of the Byzantine Empire - Constantinople.

Others retell the legend differently, claiming that the sorcerer himself could turn into animals and often frightened the local people with this. Now any statues of elephants in Sicily, created from black lava stone, are called Liautru– this name appeared due to the simplification of the name of a powerful magician Heliodorus. It is believed that such sculptures can calm, even if he intends to destroy everything around him.

At all, Catania is closely associated with elephants, although at first this statement seems devoid of logic. However, even during the reign of Sicily Arab emirs, the name of Catania was translated as “ Elephant City" Someone claims that Arabs often organized a hunt in the outskirts of the city riding elephants. Apparently, it was immigrants from the East who brought these giant land animals to the island, but today archaeologists assure that they used to live in Sicily your unique type of elephants, however, in comparison with their African brothers they were completely dwarf.

After Sicily became a Christian kingdom, the face became a symbol St. George, but in the eighteenth century, townspeople and local authorities decided to return to the traditional symbols of the city. In particular, they talked about returning the status symbol of the city to the elephant. The idea took root, and today there are elephants even on coat of arms of Catania, not to mention various signs of city institutions and sports clubs.

Church of St. Nicholas

Not far from the square Dante you will find Church of St. Nicholas– a very unusual temple, which deservedly bears the title of the largest religious building on the entire island. The first services in the church began at the end seventeenth century, but they did not have time to complete the temple, and six years later it was almost completely destroyed by an earthquake. Today the Church of St. Nicholas in Catania is famous for its colonnade, which was abandoned by the first builders and is of practically no use today. But it is this, together with the beautiful facade, that is the main “highlight” of the temple, which, by the way, looks incredible inside. Therefore, the church is one of the most interesting attractions of Catania.

Next to the church you will find the Monastery of St. Nicholas. It is known for its size - the second largest among all European medieval monasteries, and a large old library, which contains about two hundred rare handwritten publications from different eras.

Church of San Giuliano

Another beautiful temple of Catania, which is impossible to pass by while traveling to Sicily - Church of San Giuliano. It was built two and a half centuries ago and still never ceases to amaze everyone with its unusual facade, which is different unique curve. Right at the gates of the church there are archaeological excavations where scientists found the great road of the ancient Romans, who ruled Sicily for a long time.

Church of San Placido

Almost immediately behind the Cathedral you can see Church of San Placido- another attraction of Catania, the fate of which is closely connected with. It was after the strongest of them, which occurred at the very end of the seventeenth century, that the Church of San Placido was rebuilt on the site of a destroyed Christian temple.

The church building can impress anyone with its unusual beautiful facade, made in the style baroque. The chief architect who worked on the design and construction of the Church of San Placido is Stefano Ittar, who also managed to take part in work on famous Gate Garibaldi.

Church of the Conclusion of St. Agatha

Another temple, the name of which was given by the patroness of Catania. Just a few tens of meters from the amphitheater is the Church of the Conclusion of St. Agatha. Today the church is located in the prison building.

At one time, it was in this place that Saint Agatha was imprisoned before she was killed.

The great one left behind a lot of monuments. Byzantine Empire, however, in Sicily, due to frequent earthquakes, there are not many of them left. One of such outstanding historical and architectural monuments can be considered Chapel of Bonaiuto, which is built in the shape of a cross.

Back in the mid-fifteenth century, this chapel came into the possession of an influential family Bonaiuto. Today the chapel building restored and quite often serves as a venue for important events.

Collegiate Basilica

If you want to know what it is Sicilian Baroque, then you definitely need to see Collegiate Basilica of Catania.

The facade impresses with its beauty. The first row of columns is crowned by a luxurious balustrade, on the second level in the very center there is a large window, and the third row of columns ends with four sculptures of Christian figures canonized - Petra, Pavel, Apollonia and, of course, the Great Martyr Agates, which patronizes Catania.

At the very top is Bell tower and beautiful inside frescoes, showing all parishioners the lives of various Christian saints and important religious scenes involving the Virgin Mary.

Church of San Benedetto

Despite the fact that Catania is famous for its large number of medieval temples, churches and monasteries, the Church of San Benedetto for local residents remains one of the most important Christian buildings of the city. Temple built over ten years, beginning with 1704 of the year. For a long time it was a residence Benedictine Order.

The design of the building is pure Sicilian Baroque. All stairs, columns, balustrades delight people who look at them for the first time. Under the vault of the church you can see the unique painting “The Glory of St. Benedict” created by the master Giovanni Tuccari in the middle of the eighteenth century. This attraction of Catania is worth a visit!

Local legends say that from the Church of San Benedicto you can along the secret passage get to Monastery of St. Nicholas, also belonging to the Benedictine Order. There are different stories, and some claim that with the help of a secret underground tunnel, the monks organized forbidden dates with nuns.

Monastery of the Benedictine Order

Of course, it is worth paying attention to monastery. He is located on the street Via Crociferi and is protected today by UNESCO. The construction of the monastery building dates back to 1355, however, like many other historical monuments of Catania, it had to be restored in the eighteenth century.

Every tourist arriving in Catania should see this monastery, thanks to its unique arch, which has become one of the symbols of the city. Local legends say that the monks were able to build the monastery by working just one night. Well, today it houses the main Sicilian museum, which has several large galleries with works of modern art.

However, the Monastery of the Benedictine Order itself is a unique attraction. Here you can spend the whole day, going on an unforgettable historical journey.

You will have the opportunity to see the Roman domus, excavated by archaeologists under the monastery, ancient premises, restored to its original appearance, C Church of St. Benedict, part of the monastery complex, and also complete your short tour in one of the museum’s galleries. A journey into the world of art is worth everything 5 euros per person. You will also be offered the services of a guide. The complex is open on weekends and Fridays from ten in the morning to seven in the evening.

Arch of St. Benedict

This arch is known throughout Europe and is considered important architectural monument Sicily. The Benedictines managed to build it all in just one night, but this is only if you believe their own old legend. The arch was erected in honor of the fact that the monks refused to submit to the whims of nature and declared war on destructive earthquakes. The arch is located right next to the Church of St. Benedict, which we already wrote about in this article just above.

Theaters of Ancient Rome

The Roman Empire left behind many traces in Sicily, especially in Sicily, whose history dates back tens of centuries. Therefore, it is here that you can find several surviving Roman theaters.

The largest theater is considered to be the one located on the modern Vittorio Emanuele II street of Catania. Once upon a time it could accommodate almost seven thousand people who came to the arena in order to enjoy various theatrical, and not always harmless, spectacles. A little further there is a theater where they could sit one thousand three hundred people.

Roman Theater and Odeon

To see the famous Odeon, you'll have to go to old center of Catania, once former forum ancient Roman city named Katana. As usual, the center of the city was located on a high hill, where several important religious and public buildings were erected. Initially located there ancient greek acropolis, however, later, when the Romans came to the city, they built their own in its place Odeon. Unfortunately, it is no longer possible to see all the beauty of the Odeon from the outside - there are many modern buildings around it, covering it. But if you know where to go, you will certainly be able to find the Odeon - one of the most impressive ancient Roman buildings in Catania.

The Roman theater located nearby could once seat up to seven thousand people, and the diameter of its arena reached one hundred meters. Some elements of the building are made of volcanic rock, which makes this theater unique in its own way.

Ursino Fortress

Sicily lived turbulently and during Middle Ages when the whole island was built up large fortresses, capable of withstanding the furious assaults of enemies. One of the darkest and most interesting medieval castles in Catania can be considered Ursino Fortress, which was erected in thirteenth century on a coastal cliff.

IN In 1669, Mount Etna was destroyed again many buildings in Catania and severely damaged the fortifications of the fortress. Almost thirty years later, a major earthquake the sea moved away from the castle. Today the Fortress Ursino is located right in the middle of the city, surrounded by regular residential areas. At the same time, some of the fortifications today, although intact, are buried under flows of cooled lava.

In the fortress building you can visit a large archaeological And historical museum Catania.

Walls of Charles V

Another important historical landmark of Catania, which once protected the city from enemies - network of fortifications of Charles V, which included large walls, eleven small fortresses And seven protective gate. The wall was built in sixteenth century, but during the period of the strongest Sicilian eruptions and earthquakes in the seventeenth century was heavily damaged. Already in the eighteenth century, when the city was extensively rebuilt, all the protective functions of the walls were lost. Today there is only small piece of wall and scattered parts of once powerful bastions. However, they are worth seeing.

The symbol of the city and a majestic monument, an interesting landmark of Sicily. The gates were erected in eighteenth century in honor of the royal family. The gate is made of volcanic stones and snow-white limestone. At the top you can see royal coat of arms and huge size watch. On the gate itself there is an inscription that reads: “ Rising from the ashes, I become even more beautiful».

Fountain of Amenano

Ancient Greek colonists founded Catania on the banks of the river Amenano, which today only reminds fountain of the same name, built of marble in the mid-nineteenth century. Over time the river became underground, but the system waters of the fountain still continue to feed it.

Just two hundred meters from the main square of Catania is the famous, built in eighteenth century. Beautiful courtyard with a unique fountain Neptune attract thousands of tourists every year. From here you can get to an interesting Toy Museum.

Residence of influential members Biscari family was built at the end seventeenth century right next to one of the surviving parts protective city wall of Catania. For a hundred years, the palace building continued to be completed and improved until it became similar to what we can see today. On the roof there is a compact dome, palace shape extended, and inside there is a luxurious courtyard with gardens. Almost all of the interior decoration of the Biscari Palace was taken to main museum of the city, but even today there is something to see here. Particularly impressive internal premises palace, where all the rooms are decorated differently, each in its own style and with its own unique interior design, different from others.

If you have already arrived in Catania, then under no circumstances miss the opportunity to visit the famous Fish market — A Piscaria. As usual in markets, there is endless bustle and noise. This is a unique world that reflects the essence of Sicilian life. And this is one of the most memorable and interesting places on the entire island.

Every morning traders display their ranks with freshly caught fish. Here you can buy literally everything that the waters of the Mediterranean Sea are famous for, from basking sharks, before lobster, which are distinguished by their huge dangerous claws. Sea stars, mussels, sea ​​urchins, dozens of species shrimp– you will find all this at the Fish Market in Catania. The main thing you need to take with you here besides money is: camera.

The theater was erected in Catania at the end nineteenth century. Inside the theater today there is museum, where there are a lot of things telling about the life of the great composer Vincenzo Bellini, whose name the theater bears. In addition to the theater, there is also museum great composer. Every Wednesday, Friday And Saturday you have the opportunity to get to excursion in the museum, the cost of which is only five euros per person.

The theater itself accommodates 1200 spectators. The hall is beautiful and luxurious. Beautiful paintings are visible on the ceilings Ernesto Bellandi– the artist depicted scenes from the most popular Italian operas.

There is a sculpture in the very center of the main hall of the theater Vincenzo Bellini, made of bronze.

Cost of visiting the theater five euros, and a ticket to the opera or any other performance - three euros.

Cyclops Coast

The last attraction of Catania today, which we will tell you about, will be Cyclops Coast, shrouded in secrets, ancient legends and myths.

Almost the entire coast of Sicily in the East was of very important cultural and historical significance for the ancient Greeks, who first landed on the island here. That's why if you need interesting legends about Catania and Sicily, then you should go here.

What is the Cyclops Coast? This is an entire part of the coast of Sicily, which can be found near the settlement Aci Trezza. Everything there is strewn with huge stones - the Islands of the Cyclops.

The Cyclops Coast first became known after the myth about Odyssey. Homer spoke in his poems about the fact that he lived here Polyphemus- one-eyed huge Cyclops, legitimate son Poseidon- lord of all seas. Polyphemus did not like the fact that mortals were on his territory and he captured Odysseus and his travelers who were returning from the legendary Trojan War. The Cyclops immediately swallowed six sailors, and prepared to kill the rest a little later. But Odysseus managed, with the help of courage and cunning, to blind the giant. Polyphemus, in a fit of anger and hellish pain due to his burned out eye, began to grab blocks of stone and throw them towards Odysseus’s ship. But the hero still managed to escape, and the stones scattered by the angry Cyclops remained lying near the shore. They also gave the name to the coast, which today everyone knows as the Cyclops Coast.

All attractions of Catania

Thus, when going to Sicily to the city of Catania, you will be able to find places that have preserved the history and culture of the entire island for thousands of years. From the most ancient human sites, to luxurious buildings of recent centuries, from majestic Greek and Roman temples, to powerful fortresses and walls. Catania has all this, which means that by visiting here, you will learn a lot of new things and be able to see a lot of unique monuments, which have no equal anywhere else!

Excursions in Catania

Map of the city of Catania with attractions.

Well, for those who like to explore the city on their own, we have prepared a surprise - an interactive map of the sights of the city of Catania. Enjoy! Let's tell you another secret: a tour bus leaves from the central square of the city every 30 minutes, where you can explore the city. At any stop you can get off, take a walk in the place you like, and then catch the next bus. Tickets are valid all day!

On my first trip to Sicily, I did not plan to visit the city of Catania. The Sicilians told me about this city and I decided to go for 1 day. I was impressed by this city and 1 day for such a city is, of course, very little. Therefore, on my next trip, I returned with friends, and we planned to stay for 5 days in this city, because... From here you can easily reach all cities of Sicily by bus from via Archimede. I liked Taormina, but it is a very small tourist town with too many tourists. In Catania it's the opposite. The city itself is much larger, the infrastructure is more developed, it is easy to get from the airport to the city center by bus. The main place where you can book excursions is Piazza Duomo. A tourist bus runs here. Costs approximately 15 euros. You can travel around the historical center on a small tourist train. It costs only 5 euros. We took this excursion to English language. We were taken to the main attractions: Palazzo Elefante, the symbol of Catania - a black elephant made of lava stone on Piazza Duomo, the Amenano fountain, the Church of St. Agatha - the patroness of this city. Her feast day is February 5th, if possible, this celebration is worth seeing, with crowds and fireworks everywhere. We drove past the Benedictine Monastery, Palazzo Biscari, and the Bellini Theater. Catania is the birthplace of Vincenzo Bellini. It is worth seeing the Ursino Castle, the Dioclesiano Museum, which is located next to the Duomo Cathedral. Here you can see the clothes of bishops, church utensils and paintings. At the top there is a terrace overlooking the city and the sea. Many buildings in the historical part are black because lava stones were used for construction. From the excursion we learned that Catania was destroyed by earthquakes and eruptions of Etna, after which the city was rebuilt in the Sicilian Baroque style. Very beautiful. The longest street with shops and views of Etna is Via Etnea; Corso Italia is also suitable for shopping. For lovers nightlife, I advise you to go after 10 pm to Piazza Teatro Massimo, where young people living in Catania gather, where you can meet Erasmus students of different nationalities. Bars are open until almost 4 am. Sometimes there are concerts of live contemporary music. We hit them twice. There are two beaches in Catania: La Playa, a long sandy beach in the south of the city, but you need to get to it either by car or by bus, and Nero Licutti, a beach with huge lava stones. Locals we were told that Etna's lava once reached right down to the sea, which is why these black lava boulders are there. After exploring the city, we went on a day trip to Etna. There are many companies, mostly organized in English. language. We chose the Etna Experience - 56 euros per person. We returned in the evening tired but happy. A day later we planned a boat excursion to the town of Acitrezza. We picked up brochures from the hotel and booked this excursion ourselves with Sicilian Sail. Paid 68 euros per person, including lunch. This is inexpensive compared to, for example, for an excursion to Capri without lunch we paid 56 euros + taxi around the island + lunch in a restaurant. There was wifi on the yacht, which pleasantly surprised us, because... So far I have not seen this in other countries. We were given control of the yacht. The guide told us that Etna was once an underwater volcano. We visited the coast of the Cyclops, described in the Odyssey. We really enjoyed the excursion. The guide advised us to try granita (Sicilian ice cream) and cannoli with ricotta. Insanely delicious sweets. My friends also liked Catania. I was delighted. The only thing I didn’t really like was the abundance of beggars and pickpockets. They warn you about this right away. On South

For many centuries it played the role of the capital, the center of administrative power, and Messina remained the main trading gate, then Catania, located between them, very skillfully benefited from this intermediate position.

Catania weather:

How to get to Catania:

	Transport in Catania and surrounding areas

Find your way around Catania

Central railway and bus station are located near port, on piazza Giovanni XXIII (Piazza Giovanni Venti Tresimo). Departs from it strictly to the west corso Martiri della Liberta (corso Martiri della Liberta), which leads to historical center. Walking distance (1 km) along the avenue to piazza della Repubblica (Piazza Repubblica) will take about 15 minutes. Next you should move in the same direction along corso Sicily to the intersection with via Etna , which is focused on best shops, cafes and city hotels.

If by via Etna continue moving from north to south, then in a few minutes you can get to piazza del Duomo, and if you change direction, the avenue will soon lead you to commercial center of Catania, near via Pacini (via Pacini) and via Umberto I(via Umberto Primo).

Majority city ​​buses depart from the railway station, including express to the airport Fontanarossa. In summer, the city introduces additional regular buses from letter D, they serve passengers wishing to board beach.

Free Wi-Fi in Catania

There are free Wi-Fi hotspots in Catania run by Freeluna. Registration is required upon first use. After registration you can connect to the city network for free for 3 hours a day. Free Wi-Fi hotspots are active: piazza Duomo, piazza Teatro Massimo, piazza Università, piazza Stesicoro, Catania Central Station and Villa Bellini park. You can also connect to the network at Piazza Castello in the small neighboring town of Acicastello.

History of Catania

Scientists believe that the city Katana was founded by the Greeks at the beginning of the 8th century BC. in place of the Siculs. The name of the city is traced back to the Siculian word for “hill,” and the ancient acropolis was indeed located on a hill where a large Benedictine monastery now stands. In 476 BC. e. The Syracusan tyrant Hiero captured the city, expelled all the inhabitants and settled his own subjects here. After 15 years, justice was restored, the residents returned to their homes and, harboring a grudge against the invaders, entered into an alliance with Athens against Syracuse, for which they soon paid. In 415, Dionysius I, the new tyrant of Syracuse, again captured and ravaged Catane.

With the arrival of the Romans in 263 BC. An era of prosperity began, but many ancient monuments were lost or badly damaged. During the three centuries of Byzantine rule on the island (535-827), the economic situation of Catan was quite stable, thanks to the export of food products to Constantinople.

1. Catania Cathedral

Cathedral( Duomo) occupies the eastern side of the square. Its radical reconstruction, which is better called “construction from scratch,” began in 1709 under the leadership of Girolamo Palazzotto. From the former temple, only the foundations, apse and part of the transept have been preserved. Main façade was carried out by Gian Battista Vaccarini, who spent thirty years of his life (1730-1761) to bring his creation to completion.

The cathedral is dedicated to St. Agatha, the patroness of Catania, her relics rest in the southern part of the temple, next to royal tombs Frederick II and Constance of Aragon, wife of Frederick III. Another great son of Catania, composer Vincenzo Bellini, is buried nearby.

• Piazza del Duomo
• daily 08.00–12.30, 16.00–19.30

Elephant Fountain (Fontana dell'Elefante) on Cathedral Square - the main symbol of the city. It was installed by Vaccarini during the reconstruction of Catania after the earthquakes of 1693. In the center of the structure is a figure of an elephant with white tusks, carved from black lava stone; an Egyptian obelisk rises on the back of the animal. Most likely, the elephant was carved back in the days of ancient Rome and decorated one of the temples of Isis, of which there were many in Italy.

2. Municipal Palace

On the northern side of the square is the Municipal Palace ( Palazzo del Municipio), its construction began in 1695, and ended only a hundred years later. The façade of the building was made according to Vaccarini's drawings.

3. Palazzo Gravina Cruillas and Bellini Museum

The journey through Catania from Cathedral Square can be continued in a westerly direction along via Vittorio Emanuele II to piazza San Francesco d'Assisi (Piazza San Francesco), on which stands Palace of Gravina Cruillas, where it is located Bellini Museum(Museo Belliniano).

• Bellini Museum
• P.zza S. Francesco, 3

4. Greek theater

Next door are Greek theater And Odeon. Residents of Catania are accustomed to calling the theater Greek, but in fact it was built by the Romans in the 1st-2nd centuries. For its time, the theater was considered quite respectable, its diameter was 102 m, and its capacity was 7,000 spectators. The theater was entirely lined with marble, but in the 11th century valuable stone removed and used to decorate the first cathedral.

• Teatro Romano - Odeon
• Via Vittorio Emanuele II, 266
• Closed until March 14, 2015
• € 6,00

5. Odeon

To the west of the theater there is another ancient spectacular building - the Odeon. This small stage area (for 1300 spectators) was discovered relatively recently. Perhaps the Odeon was intended for orchestra rehearsals, various competitions and meetings.

6. Ursino Castle

South of p. San Francesco d'Assisi located Ursino Castle (Castello Ursino) - a typical medieval defensive structure was built in 1239-1250 by master Riccardo Lentini commissioned by Frederick II of Hohenstaufen. In plan, the castle is a square, each corner of which is reinforced by a round bastion. Initially, the fortress stood on the seashore and was surrounded by a deep ditch, but during the eruption of 1669, lava flows filled the ditch, and the coastline was pushed back several hundred meters. Currently located within the walls of the citadel City Museum (Museo Civico), formed on the basis of the collections of Prince Biscari.

• Ursino Castle
• Piazza Federico di Svevia
• 095 34 58 30
• hedgehog. 9.00-19.00, last entry 18.30
• Entrance € 8.00

7. Uceda Gate

By via San Calogero (via San Calogero) you can walk to Uceda Gate (Porta Uzeda), built in 1695 in honor of the Spanish Viceroy Pacheco de Uceda.

8. Biscari Palace

Continue further to the Biscari Palace ( Palazzo Biscari). This wonderful creation of the architect Francesco Battaglia is one of the best examples of local baroque. IN different time Alonzo di Benedetto and Giuseppe Palazzotto worked on the facades of the palace.

• Palazzo Biscari
• Via Museo Biscari,10

Continuing along via Porticello(via Porticello), then turn onto via V ittorio Emanuele II, let's go back to piazza del Duomo.

Next, past the Municipal Palace, we will move along the main thoroughfare of Catania - via Etna, Etna street. Here you can see many interesting palaces, beautiful churches, elegant restaurants and seductive shops, but our goal is:

9. Roman amphitheater

Roman amphitheater (Anfiteatro Romano) is located on p. Stesicoro (Stezikoro Square). It was built in the 2nd century from lava stone, marble and brick. The stands surrounding the elongated arena could once accommodate up to 15,000 spectators.

For many years this grandiose structure was hidden under layers of lava, and only in 1904-1906 the amphitheater, thanks to the efforts of archaeologists, saw the light again. Part of the arena still remains underground, so it is better to take a tour into its depths accompanied by a special guide. On the opposite side of the square from the amphitheater there is a monument to composer Vincenzo Bellini.

• Anfiteatro Romano
• Piazza Stesicoro
• Tue-Sat 9.00 - 13.30 and 14.30-17.00
• Free admission

WITH piazza Stesicoro let's turn back via Crociferi (via Crociferi), which runs almost parallel via Etna. This highway received its name in honor of a religious order, whose brothers were engaged in treating the poor. There are several buildings in the “black baroque” style on the street.

10. Chiesa San Nicolo all’ Arena

By via Gesuiti you can go to piazza Dante, where the largest one in Catania is located Church of San Nicolo all Arena (Chiesa San Nicolo all' Arena), which began to be built back in 1558, but during the earthquake of 1693 it was completely destroyed. The new temple was erected with the participation of Francesco Battaglia and Stefano Ittara, although the grandiose plan of the architects could not be fully realized - the façade remained unfinished.

• Church of San Nicolo all Arena
• Piazza Dante
• Mon-Sat 9.00-13.00, free entry

The church is included in the complex Benedictine monastery (Monastero dei Benedittini), which now houses the literary and philosophical faculties of the University of Catania. Once upon a time this monastery ranked second in size in Europe. The monastery, destroyed in 1693, was restored by the masters Antonio Amato, Francesco Battaglia and Gian Battista Vaccarini. Initially, they planned to build a huge complex, uniting four monasteries at once, but due to financial difficulties, the plan was only half realized. Currently, the monastery houses a library with a collection of more than 100,000 volumes.

• Monastero dei Benedettini
• Piazza Dante, 32
• daily from 9.00 to 17.00.
• Entrance: 6.00 € - reduced price € 4.00 - student. 2.00 € - up to 12 years - free

11. Abbey Church of St. Agates

Abbey Church of St. Agatha ( Badia di Sant'Agata) is located on via Sant'Agata from the side via Vittorio Emanuele II. This beautiful baroque church was built in 1735-1767 according to the design of Vaccarini.

• Chiesa Badia di S.Agata
• Via Vittorio Emanuele 184
• Tue-Sun 9.00-12.00

Museums and theaters of Catania

Diocesan Museum (Museo Diocesano)

• P.zza Duomo Via Etnea, 8
• Mon-Fri 9.00 -14.00, Sat 9.00-13.00
• €. 7.00, Museo + Terme Achilliane € 10.00

Museum-apartment of Giovanni Verga(Museo di Casa Verga)

• Via Sant'Anna, 8
• Mon - Sat 9.00-13.15 / 14.15 -19.15
• € 4,00

Emilio Greco Museum ( Museo di Emilio Greco )

• Piazza San Francesco d'Assisi, 3
• Mon - Sat 9.00-19.00, Sun 9.00 - 13.00
• € 5.00 (with Museo Belliniano)

Museo Belliniano

• P.zza S. Francesco, 3
• Mon - Sat 9.00-19.00, Sun 9.00 - 13.00
• €5.00 (with Museo Emilio Greco)

Museo dello Sbarco

• € 4.00, reduced € 2.00

Cinema Museum

• Le Ciminiere Piazzale R. Chinnici
• Tue-Sun 9.00-16.45, last entry 15.45
• € 4.00, reduced € 2.00

Museum of Contemporary Art of Sicily (Museo Arte Contemporanea Sicilia)

• Via Teatro Greco, 2
• Mon-Sun 9.00-18.00, closed Thurs.
• € 3.50 reduced: € 2.00 MACS+ Monastero € 5.00

Opera House Massimo Bellini ( Teatro Massimo Bellini)

• Via G.Perrotta, 12
• 095 730 61 11

J. Verga Theater ( Teatro V erga )

• Via Fava, 35
• 095 36 35 45

Angelo Musco Theater ( Teatro Angelo Musco )

• Via Umberto, 312
• 095 53 55 14

Fish market ( Pescheria )

• Piazza Di Benedetto – Piazza Pardo
• Mon–Sat 08.00–13.00

Catania holidays

The main city holiday - festival of st. Agates- will take place on February 3-5. These celebrations began to be held regularly in 1126, when the remains of the martyr were returned to Sicily from Constantinople, where they had been kept since 1040.

According to legend, a young Christian woman named Agatha rejected the advances of the pagan Quintian, for which she was thrown into prison, where she suffered martyrdom (250). The relics of the saint are kept in cathedral, but once a year the sacred shrine with incorruptible remains is taken out of the temple, accompanied by a solemn procession. and sometimes more often: if the rebellious Etna suddenly sends streams of lava towards Catania, then the townspeople always turn to the help of the sacred ashes - after all, only St. Agatha!

Specialties and souvenirs from Catania

Arancino- cone-shaped rice croquettes stuffed with meat, tomato sauce, cheese and peas

Fish- don’t miss the opportunity to visit the fish market, immersed in the atmosphere of the port city

horsemeat- very popular in Catania, especially in the area around the Benedictine monastery

Pasta alla Norma- traditional pasta with tomato sauce, sliced ​​roasted eggplant, grated ricotta cheese and fresh basil.

Cannolo alla Ricotta- a world-famous traditional dessert from Catania

Cassatella di Sant'Agata- a traditional dessert from Catania, named after St. Agates

Pasta di Mandorla - almond milk dessert

Granita- a version of sorbet based on almonds or black mulberries, served with a sweet bun -“ brioscia“: a refreshing and filling option that can be found in almost every restaurant in Catania during the summer.

Catania Map