Tourist attractions Catania

The square was once named Piazza del Cinque d'Oro , in reference to playing cards. It was a place for the performing arts: Concerts and plays used to animate this square where there once stood a platform surrounded by four small paths. Today the sup..

The square - the centre of the city designed by Vaccarini - has a harmonious Baroque appearance. The elephant fountain , symbol of Catania, stands opposite the 19C Amenano Fountain , set back on the southern side in front of the Palazzo dei Chieric..

This palazzo is the city's most handsome civic building. It is the work of Ignazio Biscari, an art, literature and archaeology enthusiast who financed numerous digs and set up an archaeology museum here (collections temporarily at San Francesco Bor..

Via Crociferi is the street that best illustrates the Catania Baroque style. The buildings that line it, especially in the first stretch, lend it a unique beauty and harmony. You get here via the Arco di San Benedetto , flanked by the Badia Grande a..

The Norman fortress built of black volcanic rock flouts the sea from its rocky outcrop. Saturnia fort has stood here since the Roman era having being destroyed several times - King Tancred deciding to rebuild it in 1189. Under the Bourbons, it was re..

This beautiful, richly decorated palace is where a few scenes of Visconti film, the Leopard , based on the novel by Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa, were shot.

Cet opéra porte tout naturellement le nom de Bellini, auteur de La Norma , oeuvre qui inaugura le théâtre en 1890. La salle est réputée pour son acoustique, une des meilleures au monde.

In the Ursino castle, its collections mainly group together works by southern artists, from the 15C to the 19C. You will thus find the triptych of the Virgin in majesty, Saint Anthony and Saint Francis by Antonello de Saliba . The Caravaggio schoo..

The chiesa madre in this suburb of Acireale was built in the 18C. Its stunning façade decorated with a campanile with a base made of volcanic rock is sure to catch your eye.

Characterised by the central campanile, the building has an ugly staircase in front with, on the right, a raised platform with steps which makes a play of asymmetric ramps. From the panoramic terrace, there is an attractive view looking down over the..

Acireale has been a spa town since ancient times, thanks to its sulphurous waters that bubble up 3 km away from the town centre. Archaeologists found the remains of a Roman spa complex under this spa establishment built by Baron Agostino Pennisi di F..

The basilica has a beautiful baroque façade with alternating columns, pilaster strips, alcoves and arches and cherubs happily supporting a garland. The interior is decorated with frescoes by P. Vasta illustrating the events in the life of Saint Seb..

This square is bordered by the Baroque façade of the Saint-Dominic's Church , the Musmeci palace with its beautiful balconies and Rococo window. A little further on, you will discover the Zelantea library and its resident art gallery where you..

The Cathedral is dedicated to the Annunciation and Saint Venera. Certain not to go by unnoticed is the two-colour Neo-Gothic style façade by Giovanni Filippo Basile, the father of Ernesto Basile and master of Italian art nouveau, know as Liberty styl..

The museum exhibits traditional Acireale puppets, some dating from the 19C. Their fine armour, costumes and accessories are the fruits of extremely meticulous artistry and of a fertile imagination. Each character must have distinct characteristics to..

From the panoramic terrace overlooking the sea, you can admire Mount Etna. The park is also enjoyed for its peace and quiet. A short walk will take you to the statue of Acis and Galatea and a copy of the platform that used to stand in the Cathedr..

Centring on the 17C chiesa madre that it takes its name from, this small hamlet is certainly worth a detour for its charming fishing port.

The Grotto of the crib is a simple recess in the volcanic rock, beside Santa Maria della Neve church. Until the 18C, fishermen and bandits used the grotto as a place of refuge before being remodelled as a crib in which 32 life-size wax figures tell..