Enjoy Catania, In Sicily, Day And Night

When we travel to Sicily, the first thing we think of is the palatial Palermo, leaving another of its jewels in the background: Catania. This is the second largest city on the island, and with its 400,000 inhabitants it offers dozens of things to do and see. This is what we are going to do, we want to enjoy Catania for a full day.

The first thing many tourists think when setting foot there is that it is a decaying city. Nothing is further from the truth, Catania is special. We have planned a day in the city for you, more than enough time to get an idea of ​​how beautiful and different it is.

Enjoy Catania by day

10:00 h

The first thing is to charge batteries for everything that awaits us that day. We suggest you have a chocolate granita for breakfast at Gelateria Zappalà, a delicious sweet stuffed bun. And that you accompany it with an Italian cappuccino, of course.

To start the morning, a good option is to walk along the Via Etnea. It is one of the main arteries of the city and in its three kilometers you will find numerous shops. The street begins at the Piazza del Duomo, which is well worth a visit.

11:30 a.m.

The next stop on the tour to enjoy Catania will be the Mercato de la Fera o’Luni, which is held daily in Piazza Carlo Albero. It is one of the oldest markets, along with the Pescheria, which, as its name suggests, is dedicated exclusively to the sale of fresh fish.

Going to this market will make you immerse yourself in the most typical folklore and life of the city. Without a doubt, one of the most curious places in Catania.

13:30 h

To eat, we propose two of the city’s specialties. On the one hand, you can try one of their famous horse meat paninis, as strange as it may seem. It is a very rich and spicy meat that you can try in some of the market stalls.

Another of the typical foods of Catania is pasta alla Norma, which has tomato with cottage cheese and aubergines. And of course, as a good maritime and fishing city, fish can also be an interesting option on your menu.

14:15 h

Etna is the permanent protagonist of Catania. It is present in every corner of the city, from the stones used for the construction of some monuments to its imposing image, sometimes smoky.

Therefore, after eating, you can take a short tour of different points looking for different views of the volcano. There are dozens of viewpoints that you can find on the streets, so it will not be a complicated task.

Enjoy Catania in the afternoon and at night

16:00 h

For dessert, go to one of the many pasticcerias that you will find and try one of the famous cannoli . They are a delicious dessert that costs about € 3. There are many flavors, the best is cottage cheese, do not miss it!

17:15 h

The next thing you can do is take a bus and go to Aci Trezza. It is a beautiful town near the city, which in summer becomes a strategic point for tourists.

Its great attraction are its wonderful beaches of volcanic origin and the cliffs of the Cyclops. Legend has it that Polyphemus threw them at Cyclops during his flight, pinning them to the sea floor. They are actually large rocks, the result of erosion, the largest being about 70 meters high.

20:00 h

When you return to the city, you can have a coffee in the Piazza del Duomo. Having a cappuccino next to the huge pillar erected on the back of an elephant could be a good ending to this day in Catania.

Or if you prefer, you can go to one of the many bars in the Via Etnea area to have a Moretti, the typical beer of the area.

21:30 h

For dinner, you must try another of the most typical foods of Catania: the arancini. It is a kind of fried saffron rice croquette that you will find practically anywhere.

Many travelers agree that the best in the city are those prepared at Pasticceria Savia. They have two branches: Vía Etnea and Vía Umberto. It is quite difficult to find a place, especially on the terrace, but you cannot leave Sicily without trying them.

10:30 p.m.

To end the day, get off dinner and enjoy Catania from another point of view, we suggest a walk discovering the last remaining corners of the city and enjoying a delicious street gelati .

It is the end of a day in a city, Catania, that can surprise you. Do you include it in your list of destinations to discover?