To see

It’s the main square in Catania; via Etnea, Via Vittorio Emanuele and Via Garibaldi, the three main roads of the old town, cross in this place. It is surrounded by many monuments and in its centre is placed the famous “Elephant’s fontain”, built by Gianbattista Vaccarini. … read more

It’s a “jewel” of the late Sicilian Baroque architecture and an example of integration among different periods, it is shown in UNESCO’s World Heritage Site. From 1977, the plezus monastic houses the Humanities faculty. … read more

The Etna Regional Park extends for 59,000 hectares in a unique natural environment: the extraordinary landscape which surrounds the highest active volcano in Europe is set to become a World Heritage Site in June 2013. … read more

Between 1239 and 1250, Frederick II ordered to build the Ursino Castle for defensive purpose of the East coast of Sicily and it was on a promontory surrounded by sea. In 1669, the eruption gets the Castle away from the sea. … read more

It’s located not far from Piazza Duomo, along the via Etnea, Piazza Università takes its name from the Siculorum Gymnasium also known as Palazzo Università. The characteristic of this square are the four bronze lamps positioned at its four corners depicting characters of folk tales from Catania. … read more

Piazza Stesicoro takes its name from the Greek poet Stesichorus. It is crossed and divided in two parts by the main street, via Etnea. The two sides of the square have different architectural styles: on East stands the monument dedicated to Vincenzo Bellini, on the other side the roman amphitheatre. … read more

The Bellini’s Garden is better known as Bellini’s Villa, it belonged to the Biscari’s family, who gave it to citizenship in 1854. It’s in the heart of Catania and you can come in from several sides, but the main entrance is located along the famous via Etnea. … read more

San Giovanni Li Cuti is the small Catania’ seaside district where is the most typical beach in the city. It’s an integral part of the town, the features that makes it a unique place are the black volcanic sand and rocks. The ‘urban’ beach choosen in summer by people of Catania. … read more

Le Ciminiere were the chimneys to disperse the fumes from Sulphur factories placed in East area near to Catania Central station. Around the remains of the nineteenth-century industrial complex, it was built a multi-purpose center for trade fairs, exhibitions and congresses. … read more

In the heart of the historic center of Catania, under the famous arches of the Navy, there is the Pacini garden. It is one of the two oldest gardens in the city, it was built at the end of 1800 and was incorporated by the railway viaduct in the thirties. … read more

Uzeda gate connects the two parts of the old Clerks’ seminary, it was built in 1695 by the Duke of Camastra and was dedicated to the Viceroy Paceco Uzeda. It’s considered a symbol of the city and it is built in typical Catania baroque style: lava stone and white marble. … read more

It’s located on the second floor of the nineteenth-century palace in Via Sant’Anna, the apartment, where now is based the regional museum, before was the famous writer Giovanni Verga’s home. Inside, are preserved the intact furnishings and objects that belonged to the writer. … read more

The seaside village of Aci Castello is just a few kilometers from Catania, it’s famous for its basalt rock where on top stands the turreted and crenellated castle which gives its name to the city. Inside, there is the civic museum. … read more

It’s the island that make up the archipelago of the Cyclops with other seven big rocks off Aci Trezza Sea. Its origin, caused by intense volcanic activity of Mount Etna, is dated back about 500.000 years ago. In the 19th century it has been declared Natural reserve. … read more

The village of Capomulini is located at about five kilometers from Acireale. This seafaring village, which borders the northern side of Catania Gulf, until the Middle Ages was the “old” Acireale. Not to be missed the natural harbor. … read more

Santa Maria La Scala is a fishing village not far from Acireale, it is reached walking on the old road called by Acireale people “le Chiazzette”. The small town of Santa Maria La Scala is built around the harbor called “Scalo Grande”. … read more

The Massimo Bellini Theatre is the place where it stages the opera. During its opening, in 1890, it was staged the representation of ‘Norma’ by Vincenzo Bellini. The central hall is composed of four tiers of stages and galleries on which dominates the evocative fresco. … read more

Between the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries Acireale nobles built their residences in Corso Umberto; Nicolosi Palace is one of them. The palace was built after the earthquake of 1693 and restored in late Baroque style, made following the enlargement of today’s Corso Umberto. … read more

In the center of the city, via Etnea 397, there’s the Botanical Gardens, historic garden of the city, is now the destination of many visitors who can enjoy, in every month of the year, valuable botanical collections such as Palms, Succulents and Wild plants in Sicily. … read more

In Mascalucia you can find a wonderful example of typical Mediterranean vegetation. The Park of Monte Ceraulo born from the overlapping of lava flows. Its flora witnesses the richness and variety of the magnificent Etna’ wood. … read more