Situated in the central Piazza del Duomo, the Cathedral is one of Catania's best attractions. This remarkable structure, free to enter, features a stunning nave and Norman apses dating back till its foundation in 1093. Inside, it houses the relics of the city's patron saint, Saint Agata and the remains of the famed composer Vincenzo Bellini. The church had to be rebuilt multiple times due to earthquakes, the worst taking place in 1693. The cathedral's current Baroque façade was completed in 1711 by Gian Battista Vaccarini. It features majestic granite columns, which have been taken from the city's Roman Theatre.

The church, located just behind the cathedral, is a hidden gem with the best views in town. From the dome you can enjoy unparalleled 360-degree vistas of the city and if you are lucky of Mount Etna.

Palazzo Biscari stands as a significant historic gem in Catania, showcasing the baroque elegance envisioned by the architect Alonzo Di Benedetto in 1695. It is a popular attraction in Catania and the guided 30 minute tours are particularly interesting. Your guide may even be the descendant of the Biscari himself.

Catania's vibrant fish market, located behind Piazza del Duomo, is a daily spectacle of fresh seafood and local life. Visitors are treated to a vivid display of Sicilian sea life, from massive swordfish to delicate sea urchins, all amidst the lively banter of fishmongers and shoppers. To experience the market at its most animated, it's best to arrive early in the morning. It operates every workday morning until the early afternoon.

Castello Ursino is a striking example of medieval fortifications. Today it serves as the Civic Museum of Catania, housing a rich collection of historical artifacts, including weapons, sculptures, paintings, and classical archaeology, showcasing the varied influences on Sicilian history.

The Elephant Fountain can be found on the Piazza del Duomo, and is an iconic symbol of the city. Featuring a unique black basalt elephant, affectionately known as 'Liotru', it carries an ancient Egyptian obelisk, rumored to hold magical protective powers against Mount Etna's eruptions.

The Monastery of San Nicolò l'Arena in Catania is a striking symbol of the city's rich history and architectural beauty. Founded in 1558 and located just 10 minutes from the fish market, it stands as the second largest Benedictine monastery in Europe. Despite suffering from the disastrous earthquake in the 17th century, it was meticulously rebuilt, preserving its heritage. Today, it houses the Department of Humanities of the University of Catania and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visitors can explore two grand internal cloisters, one of Sicily's most important libraries, and other areas usually closed to the public through a guided tour.

Piazza del Duomo is the main city square in Catania, Italy, flanked by both the centers of civic and religious power.

The Amphitheatre of Catania is a Roman amphitheatre in Catania, Sicily, Southern Italy, built in the Roman Imperial period, probably in the 2nd century AD, on the northern edge of the ancient city at the base of the Montevergine hill. Only a small section of the structure is now visible, below ground level, to the north of Piazza Stesicoro. This area is now the historic centre of the city, but was then on the outskirts of the ancient town and also occupied by the. The structure is part of the.

Located along Via Etnea in the centre of Catania, the Bellini Gardens (Giardino Bellini) are the city's oldest and largest public park. Take a stroll between beautiful ornate stone paths, enchanting fountains and busts of notable Catanese musicians, writers, and politicians. The gardens also offer stunning views of Mt. Etna. It's a favored spot among students, couples, and locals alike.

This theatre pays tribute to Vincenzo Bellini and has a capacity of 1,200 people. The building is distinguished by its magnificent structure, including a marble foyer named "Ridotto," a statue of Bellini, and a beautiful interior with four levels of boxes and a painted ceiling depicting scenes from Bellini's operas.

Catania–Fontanarossa Airport, also known as Vincenzo Bellini Airport, is an international airport southwest of Catania, the second largest city on the Italian island of Sicily. It is named after the opera composer Vincenzo Bellini, who was born in Catania. According to Assaeroporti, it is the busiest airport in Sicily and the fourth busiest in Italy in 2020. Major airlines such as ITA Airways, Lufthansa and KLM offer services here and connect numerous European destinations such as Rome, Munich, Amsterdam and Berlin, while low-cost airlines such as easyJet and Ryanair offer flights to leisure destinations. With nearly two million passengers carried in 2016, the Catania/Fontanarossa – Rome/Fiumicino route is Italy's busiest air route, and Europe's second busiest in 2021.

Palazzo degli Elefanti is a historical building in Catania, region of Sicily, southern Italy. It currently houses the city's Town Hall. In the past, the prior building was also known as the Palazzo Senatorio or Loggia Senatoria.

The Porta Garibaldi, originally built as the Porta Ferdinandea or Porta Ferdinanda, is a triumphal arch, built in 1768, located at the end of Via Giuseppe Garibaldi, between the Piazza Palestro and Piazza Crocifisso in the quartiere Fortino of Catania, region of Sicily, Italy. It was built to celebrate the marriage of the Bourbon king Ferdinand I of the Two Sicilies to the Austrian princess Maria Carolina d'Asburgo-Lorena. The architects of the monument were Francesco Battaglia and Stefano Ittar. The monument is made of alternating white stone from Siracusa and local dark lava blocks. At the top center of the arch is now a clock, surrounded by allegorical symbols, including an eagle and a statue recalling the black elephant u Liotru, symbol of Catania. Originally, instead of a clock, was a marble bust of the Bourbon king. Flanking this tympanum, at the second level are two angels with trumpets. Flanking these are two sculptural depictions of Trophy of arms. Underneath these dsplays of weapons and armor are written two phrases: one says Litteris armatur and the other Armis decoratur. On the east side the tympanum shield depicts a phoenix rising with a Latin cartouche stating Melior de cinere surgo, which aptly applies to Catania, that has often required rebuilding due to volcanic activity and earthquakes.

This remarkable historical site contains ruins from two ancient Roman theatres. Visitors can explore the tunnels and passageways behind the seating areas, offering a brief but fascinating glimpse into Roman architectural ingenuity. The visit will take around 30min. It's not as photogenic as the theatre in Taormina and Syracuse, but if you like ancient sites it may be worth a visit.

The botanical garden of Catania is a peaceful place offering an escape from the city's hustle for nature lovers and those who want to rest from the sun.

Piazza Stesicoro is a rectangular city square in the historic center of the city of Catania, in Sicily, Italy. The piazza is frequently host to markets. The circumvalent street is bisected by Via Etna and at the eastern end opens to the modern boulevard of corso Sicilia. The western half of the piazza displays ruins of the former Ancient Roman amphitheater of Catania. Facing the ruins is the neoclassical facade of the church of San Biagio, also known as Sant'Agata alla Fornace. Also facing the piazza are the following buildings: Palazzo Tezzano; Palazzo Paternò del Toscano; and the Palazzo Beneventano della Corte. An 1842 guide to Sicily recalls the piazza hosting a monument to King Ferdinand II of the Two Sicilies, with the monarch dressed in Ancient Roman garb. this monument had been removed by 1864 after the 1861 defeat by Garibaldi of the armies of the Bourbon monarchy of Naples and Sicily. The monument honoring Ferdinand's father King Francis I, which had been at Piazza dell'Universita was also removed during this period. The Ferdinand monument was replaced by the present Monument to Vincenzo Bellini, the composer of operas, with a base surrounded by characters from his operas.

Located on the south side of the Piazza del Duomo, the Amenano fountain is a striking Carrara marble art piece sculpted by Tito Angelini in 1867. This masterpiece pays homage to the River Amenano, beside which the Greeks established the city of Katáne. The fountain features a young man holding a cornucopia, from which water cascades into a basin and then appears to flow like a sheet into the river below.

The Ancient Royal and Eminent Basilica Collegiate of Our Lady of the Alms, better known as Basilica della Colleggiata, is a church in Catania, Sicily, southern Italy. Finished in 1794, it is an example of Sicilian Baroque.

San Benedetto is a late-Baroque architecture, Roman Catholic church and former Benedictine monastery in the city Catania, Sicily, southern Italy. The church facade faces Via Crociferi, parallels across via San Benedetto the former-Jesuit church of San Francesco Borgia, and both are about a block south along Crociferi from the church and convent of San Giuliano. Entrance to church and monastery appear to be through Piazza Asmundo #9 near the apse of the church.

Santa Maria di Gesù is a Roman Catholic parish church located on #18 of the piazza of the same name, near its intersection with Viale Regina Margherita, just northwest of Villa Bellini park, in the city of Catania, Region of Sicily, Italy.

San Francesco d'Assisi all'Immacolata is a Roman Catholic church in the city of Catania, Sicily, southern Italy.

San Giuliano is a Roman Catholic church and attached convent located on Via Crocifero #36 of Catania, Sicily, southern Italy. It stands across from the Collegio dei Gesuiti, whose church of San Francesco Borgia also faces Crociferi. Two blocks north on Crociferi is the baroque church of San Camillo de Lellis.

The Monument to Vincenzo Bellini is an outdoor monument located on Piazza Stesicoro, in the city of Catania, Sicily, Italy. Grandbeggers place

San Biagio, previously called Sant'Agata alla Fornace or La Fornace or Carcara is a Neoclassical architecture, Roman Catholic parish church located at the western edge of the Piazza Stesicoro in the quartiere San Biagio della Calcarella, of Catania, Sicily, southern Italy. The church overlooks a portion of the ruins of the former Ancient Roman amphitheater, while behind the apse in succession are two other churches venerating St Agatha of Sicily: the church of Sant'Agata al Carcere and two blocks west facing the opposite direction is Sant'Agata la Vetere.

The Palazzo del Seminario dei Chierici, also known as the Palazzo dei Chierici is a monumental building located facing the piazza Duomo in Catania, region of Sicily, Italy. It stands aside from the Cathedral of Sant'Agata, and across the piazza from the Palazzo degli Elefanti, which houses city hall. Between these two palaces, the Monument of the Elephant with obelisk is located.

Sant’Agata la Vetere is a Roman Catholic church located in the piazza of the same name in Catania, Sicily, southern Italy. East of church and nearby, but facing in the other direction, are two other churches venerating St Agatha of Sicily: the church of Sant'Agata al Carcere and two blocks east on Piazza Stesicoro is Sant'Agata alla Fornace, now known San Biagio.

The Baths of the Rotonda are the remains of one of several Roman public baths in the city of Catania, Sicily. Built between the 1st and 2nd century CE, they are not far from the Roman theatre and the odeon. In the Byzantine era, the church of Santa Maria della Rotonda with its characteristic dome was built upon the remains of the Roman baths. Its walls are still covered in medieval and baroque frescoes.

Piazza dell'Università is a city square in the historic center of the city of Catania, in Sicily, Italy. It is bisected by.

San Placido is a Roman Catholic church and former-Benedictine monastery located on the piazza of the same name in Catania, Sicily, southern Italy. The complex, two blocks east of the Catania Cathedral, spans a polygonal block encompassed by the Via Vittorio Emanuele II on the north, the via Landolina to the east, the via Museo Biscari on a south diagonal, and to the west the piazza San Placido and Via Porticello. Part of the convent is occupied by the Palazzo della Cultura, used for cultural activities and exhibitions. The Monastero di San Placido also serves presently as the Archivio di Stato di Catania.

Santa Agata al Carcere, sometimes called Santo Carcere or the Carcere church is a Roman Catholic church located on Piazza Santo Carcere #7, in the city of Catania, Sicily, southern Italy. It is one of three nearly adjacent churches venerating St Agatha of Sicily in this neighborhood, the other two being Sant'Agata alla Fornace and Sant'Agata la Vetere.

San Gaetano alle Grotte is a church in Catania, region of Sicily, southern Italy. The flank of this small church faces Piazza Carlo Alberto where the minor basilica church of the Santuario della Madonna del Carmine is located. , The substructure of the church is ancient, putatively built circa 260-300 as a chapel, perhaps a burial chapel, in a lava cave in use as a cistern, and dedicated to the Virgin Mary. In the seventh century, a church was built atop, once called Santa Maria La Grotta. In the 8th century, the Muslims either demolished or abandoned that structure. The Norman rulers, restores a church and added the large columns of the upper presbytery. The church was razed by the 1693 Sicily earthquake, and reconstruction was pursued for nearly the entire 18th century, completed only in 1801. The remaining access for the crypt was a steep narrow staircase. In 1958, the church and crypt were restored by the Carmelite friars.

Piazza Dante is a mainly semicircular city square in the historic center of the city of Catania, in Sicily, Italy. The piazza stands in front of the facade of the unfinished San Nicolò l'Arena church. At the rear and sides of the church is the large former Monastery of San Nicolò l'Arena, which now houses the humanities department and library of the University of Catania. Two rectangular expansions flank the semicircle; the southern half contains ruins of the former Ancient Roman Baths of the former Acropolis of the town. The building flanking the semicircle, while somewhat weathered and aged, all sport the identical baroque design, suggesting they were part of an urban plan, likely from the 18th century, when the entire city was rebuilt after the 1693 Sicily earthquake.

The Palazzo Manganelli is a Baroque monumental palace located in Piazza Manganelli, in the center of the city of Catania, region of Sicily, southern Italy. It is still lived in by heirs of the family, and also houses a hotel. The busy piazza serves mainly as a parking lot; at the north is a civic art gallery, housed in the former church of San Michele Minore. To the south, across Via Antonino di Sangiuliano stands the Teatro Sangiorgi. At one time, a building here housed the Istituto per la Educazione delle Fanciulle.

The Giardino Pacini, also known as Villa Pacini or the Villa Varagghi, is a small circular urban park located just south of the Porta Uzeda, on the seaward side of the elevated railway viaduct, in Catania, region of Sicily, Italy. It is partially encircled by Via Lavandaie and Via Jonica.

The Palazzo San Giuliano is a monumental palace located in Piazza Universitaria, in the center of the city of Catania, Sicily, southern Italy. Once a private home of the San Giuliano branch of the House of Paternò, it has also served as hospital, bank, theater, and hotel. Presently it houses the administrative offices of the University of Catania, and stands across the piazza from the Palazzo dell'Università, which has the rector's offices, a library, and a small museum.

The Palazzo Paternò del Toscano, also known as the Palazzo del Toscano, is an notable palace in Piazza Stesicoro, in the center of Catania, region of Sicily, southern Italy. The building now houses many shops, but is also used by schools, and for cultural programs. The white stone facade stands before the Monument to Vincenzo Bellini and rises in contrast to the palace across via Aetna, the white and black Palazzo Tezzano.

The Palazzo dell'Università or Palazzo Centrale dell'Università di Catania is a monumental palace located in Piazza Universitaria, in the center of the city of Catania, region of Sicily, southern Italy. Since its construction, it has housed the main offices of the University of Catania, and stands across the piazza from the Palazzo San Giuliano, also housing offices of the university. It presently houses the offices of the rector, university offices, the Giambattista Caruso Regional Library, and a small museum of geology and archeology.

Piazza Giuseppe Mazzini is a city square in the historic center of Catania, region of Sicily, Italy; it is remarkable for being ringed by 32 columns, putatively derived from an Ancient Roman basilica, arrayed in four nearly symmetrical arcades.

San Michele Arcangelo ai Minoriti is a Roman Catholic parish church and attached monastery in the city center of Catania, region of Sicily, Italy. The former monastery, to the left of the facade, now houses shops on the ground-floor, and above are the offices of the Provincial government and the Prefettura or Prefecture.

The Palazzo Gravina-Cruyllas is a palace located on the corner of Piazza San Francesco and Via Vittorio Emanuele, in the center of the city of Catania, Sicily, southern Italy. Vincenzo Bellini was born here, and the site now houses a museum dedicated to the opera composer: the Museo Civico Belliniano. The entrance stands across the piazza from the Monument to Blessed Giuseppe Dusmet and the church of San Francesco d'Assisi all'Immacolata.

The Palazzo Tezzano is a monumental palace in Piazza Stesicoro, in the center of Catania, Sicily, southern Italy. The via Etnea, with prominent shops, bisects the Piazza; this palazzo rises at the northwest intersection with this via, across from the white stone, neoclassical Palazzo Paterno del Toscano.

Santa Maria dell’Aiuto is a Roman Catholic parish church and located on Via Santa Maria dell’Aiuto #80, where it encounters Via San Giovanni and Via Consolato della Seta, in Catania, Sicily, southern Italy.

San Domenico, also called Santa Maria la Grande is a Roman Catholic church and active convent located on piazza San Domenico in the quartiere di Santa Maria la Grande, in Catania, region of Sicily, Italy. The church stands about two blocks north of the church of Sant'Agata la Vetere on via Santa Maddalena. The neoclassical-style, late 17th-century church houses a few prominent altarpieces that survived the 1693 catastrophe in Catania.

The Palazzo delle Poste is an notable building, called a palace, but built for and still housing postal offices. It stands on the west corner of Via Etnea, #288, where it intersects with the start of the Giardino Bellini. The postal building is a neo-baroque creation of the architect Francesco Fichera. Construction began in 1922 and were complete only in 1930. The three facades, along via Etnea, via Angelo Litrico, and via Sant'Euplio are similar. All contain a rusticated ground level set upon a base of dark lava stone. The ground floor is an row of arches, each with a keystone marked by a grotesque mask. The second floors have convex balconies framed by pilasters surmounted by a tympanum with a broken pediment. Behind the balconies are tall glass doors with delicate frames. The decoration throughout is often playful and imaginative. At the northeast corner, some of the decorations are cornucopias, but others appear to resemble complex starfish. The tympanum at this corner has a shell flanked by fish. The metal grate has a liberty style design. The interior courtyard now obscured by further construction, was nearly devoid of such decoration and has a simplistic brick detail more common in Fascist architecture of the time. However, the lively facade distinctly avoids the severe sobriety of contemporary rationalist architecture of postal offices such as the Poste palace of Palermo and the Poste palace of Naples. The architect Fichera also designed the Garage Musumeci in Catania.

San Francesco Borgia is a Roman Catholic church located on Via Crociferi #7, adjacent to the former Collegio Gesuita, and parallel to San Benedetto, and about a block south on Crociferi of the church and convent of San Giuliano, in the city of Catania, region of Sicily, southern Italy. The church is mainly used for exhibits, but still holds much of the original Jesuit artwork.

The Santuario della Madonna del Carmine also called Basilica di Maria Santissima Annunziata al Carmine, is a Roman Catholic minor basilica church and Marian sanctuary located on Piazza Carlo Alberto, in the town of Catania, Sicily.

The Palazzo della Borsa is a prominent 20th-century building facing the northwest corner of Piazza Stesicoro, between Via Sant'Euplio and Via Cappuccini, across the street from Sant'Agata alle Fornace in the city centre of Catania, region of Sicily, Italy.

The Teatro Sangiorgi or Sangiorgi Theater is a cinematography, song, and drama stage located on Via Antonino di Sangiuliano #233 of central Catania, region of Sicily, Italy. It was erected in 1900, across the street from the Palazzo Manganelli, and designed in a Liberty style. It is presently owned by the same entity as the Teatro Massimo Bellini.

Sant’Agata al Borgo is a Roman Catholic church in Catania, Sicily, southern Italy. The church rises alongside via Etna. In front of the church is the tree-lined Piazza Cavour with its fountain of Cerere, while south across the piazza rises the church of the Consolazione. The Borgo is one of the original four districts of Catania.

The Palazzo San Demetrio is a late-Baroque style palace located at via Etna #55, where via Etna intersects Via San Giuliano, in the city center of Catania, region of Sicily, Italy. The palace is remarkable for its highly sculptural portal. Once called Palazzo Massa di San Gregorio, because the present facade dates to the reconstruction after the 1693 Sicily earthquake. The structure was commissioned by the Baron of San Gregorio, Don Eusebio Massa. In 1714, the palace was acquired by Salvatore Pellegrino, Baron of San Demetrio. Sold in the early 20th century, it underwent varied refurbishments and internal alterations. In April 1944, the palace was destroyed during an allied bombardment, and 70 people who had sought refuge in the palace died. The palace was rebuilt with the same stones.