Catania: liotru city

What to see, things to do, what to eat, interesting facts

Catania

State: CT - Area: Catania and Etna

Catania, destroyed several times by earthquakes, rivers of lava and armies, is a splendid Baroque city declared a Unesco World Heritage Site. Its monuments are rich in cultural heritage from the Greek, Roman, Byzantine, Arab, Norman and Swabian periods , Angevin, Aragonese and Spanish.
The symbol of the city is the Liotru, the elephant in black lava stone that stands out in the Piazza del Duomo.
Characteristic its markets and its excellent cuisine.
Its golden beaches and black stone coves are splendid.

What is the best time to visit Catania?

Catania can be visited all year round: the welcome and warmth of the Sicilians will amaze you. But for an unforgettable experience, admiring the colors, tasting the flavors and fully experiencing the traditions, it is advisable to plan a visit on the days of one of the festivals that take place in Catania during the year.

If you want to know about upcoming festivals and events Click here and you will find a list of the most important ones.

What to see in Catania

Promenade of Catania

Promenade of Catania
Basilica la Collegiata in Catania

Basilica la Collegiata in Catania
Massimo Bellini Theater in Catania

Massimo Bellini Theater in Catania
Stesicoro Square in Catania

Stesicoro Square in Catania
Church of Sant'Agata al Carcere in Catania

Church of Sant'Agata al Carcere in Catania
Church of Sant'Agata la Vetere in Catania

Church of Sant'Agata la Vetere in Catania
Church of San Gaetano alle Grotte in Catania

Church of San Gaetano alle Grotte in Catania
Bastion of Infected in Catania

Bastion of Infected in Catania
Bellini Garden in Catania

Bellini Garden in Catania
Botanical Garden of Catania

Botanical Garden of Catania
Multimedia Tactile Pole in Catania

Multimedia Tactile Pole in Catania
Gioeni Park in Catania

Gioeni Park in Catania
Benedictine Monastery in Catania

Benedictine Monastery in Catania
San Giovanni Li Cuti in Catania

San Giovanni Li Cuti in Catania
Museum Landing in Sicily 1943 in Catania

Museum Landing in Sicily 1943 in Catania
Proserpina Fountain in Catania

Proserpina Fountain in Catania
Cinema Museum in Catania

Cinema Museum in Catania
Le Stanze in Fiore in Catania

Le Stanze in Fiore in Catania
Playa of Catania

Playa of Catania
Simeto Oasis Nature Reserve

Simeto Oasis Nature Reserve
Immacolatelle and Micio Conti Complex

Immacolatelle and Micio Conti Complex

Largo Bordighera in Catania

Largo Bordighera in Catania
Corso Italia in Catania

Corso Italia in Catania
Falcone Borsellino Park in Catania

Falcone Borsellino Park in Catania
Gammazita Well in Catania

Gammazita Well in Catania
Cathedral of Sant'Agata in Catania

Cathedral of Sant'Agata in Catania
Diocesian Museum in Catania

Diocesian Museum in Catania
Achilliane Baths in Catania

Achilliane Baths in Catania
Church of the Abbey of Sant’Agata in Catania

Church of the Abbey of Sant’Agata in Catania
Fountain of Sant'Agata in Catania

Fountain of Sant'Agata in Catania
Fish Market of Catania

Fish Market of Catania
Arches of the Navy of Catania

Arches of the Navy of Catania
Church of San Placido in Catania

Church of San Placido in Catania
Biscari Palace in Catania

Biscari Palace in Catania
Valle Palace in Catania

Valle Palace in Catania
Platamone Palace in Catania - Palace of Culture

Platamone Palace in Catania - Palace of Culture

Piazza Duomo in Catania

Piazza Duomo in Catania
Civic Museum Ursino Castle in Catania

Civic Museum Ursino Castle in Catania
Via Crociferi in Catania

Via Crociferi in Catania
Church of San Francesco in Catania

Church of San Francesco in Catania
Bellini Civic Museum in Catania

Bellini Civic Museum in Catania
Emilio Greco Museum in Catania

Emilio Greco Museum in Catania
Greeck-Roman Theatre in Catania

Greeck-Roman Theatre in Catania
Terme della Rotonda in Catania

Terme della Rotonda in Catania
Giovanni Verga's House in Catania

Giovanni Verga's House in Catania
Contemporary Art Museum in Catania

Contemporary Art Museum in Catania
Church of San Giuliano in Catania

Church of San Giuliano in Catania
University Square in Catania

University Square in Catania

Things to do

Traditional Festivals, Events, Live Show, Concerts,... Catania

Living Nativity Scene in Trappeto - San Giovanni La Punta

Living Nativity Scene in Trappeto - San Giovanni La Punta
21, 22 December 2024
Christmas in Catania

Christmas in Catania
22 December 2024 - 6 Jan 2025
Metropolitan Theater Catania

Metropolitan Theater Catania
2024-2025 season
Living Nativity Scene in Mascalucia

Living Nativity Scene in Mascalucia
27, 28, 29 Dec 2024
San Silvestro a mare in Catania

San Silvestro a mare in Catania
December 31
Umberto Galimberti in Catania

Umberto Galimberti in Catania
23 gennaio 2025
The Three Musketeers - The Musical

The Three Musketeers - The Musical
1, 2 Feb 2025
Feast of S. Agata in Catania

Feast of S. Agata in Catania
Feb 2025
Musical Forza Venite Gente in Catania

Musical Forza Venite Gente in Catania
15 Feb 2025
Enrico Brignano in Milazzo

Enrico Brignano in Milazzo
23, 25, 26 Mar 2025
Umberto Tozzi concert in Catania

Umberto Tozzi concert in Catania
19 Maj 2025
‹ Events in Catania Area
‹ Events in Sicily

What to eat in Catania

Typical food, local wines and drinks, traditional dish to taste in Catania

You can obviously taste all the typical products of Sicilian cuisine, the most well-known ones, such as cannoli, Sicilian cassata, arancini, etc. But there are some specialties typical of this area that are more difficult to find in other areas of Sicily.

To view a list of business activity within tourism in Catania Click here

Interesting and Fun Facts

Interesting and fun facts, mythology, legend, folk tales and more to know about Catania

Legend of the Wizard Heliodorus
The legend of the magician Eliodoro tells about bad stories made by the magician on the back of an elephant in Catania.
Places of Storia di una Capinera movie
In mid-nineteenth-century Catania, in via crociferi and in many other places, the scenes of Story of a blackcap were shot.
Interesting facts about Amenano river
The Amenano is the underground river of Catania. It has a long history full of anecdotes that have fueled myths and legends.
Curiosities about Liotru
Liotru, a Sicilian term to indicate elephant, is the symbol of the city of Catania and there are many curiosities about its history.
Places of L'arte di arrangiarsi
Catania is the set of "The Art of Arranging", a 1954 film by Luigi Zampa with Alberto Sordi in the title role.
Places of I Vicerè
I Vicerè, the most famous novel by Federico De Roberto, but also a movie by Roberto Faenza, was set in Catania.
Places of La Matassa movie
La Matassa movie was entirely shot in Sicily. Catania is one of the main locations of the film.
Places of Johnny Stecchino movie
Many scenes of the film Johnny Stecchino were shot in Sicily, one in particular in Catania, in the Massimo Bellini theater.
Mimì metarllurgico ferito nell'onore
The scenes from the movie Metallurgical Mimì wounded in honor take place in the streets of the Ognina district and on the Catania seafront.
Legend of the Arch of San Benedetto
According to legend, the ghost of a headless horse wanders along via crociferi in Catania, near the arch of San Benedetto.
Legend of the Ursini Giants
The legend of the Ursini Giants tells the story of the first inhabitants of the Ursino Castle in Catania.
Legend of Gammazita
The well of Gammazita in Catania is linked to the legend of a girl named Gammazita, beautiful and of great virtue.
Legend of the Paladin Uzeta
The Paladino Uzeta is the protagonist of a story born from imagination of a puppeteer from Catania, Don Raffaele Trombetta.
The Footprint of Sant'Agata in Catania
According to tradition, the footprints of Sant’Agata are kept, in a small niche, in Catania.
The Footprint of Sant'Agata and the Devil
In Mascali, in the district "a pidata di Sant’Aita", "the footprint of Sant’Agata", it is said that Sant'Agata left his mark.
Place of Il Bell'Antonio movie
The film Il Bell'Antonio is set in the streets and squares of Catania in the early 1960s.
Places of Divorzio all'Italiana
Catania, in particular the waterfront area, appear in the scenes of the film Divorzio all'italiana.
‹ Sicily Interesting Facts
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