We woke up at 8:00 am and got ready to hit the road towards Catania. Furthermore, we took one final look at Mount Etna from our hotel window in Taormina before we left. In addition, we packed our bags quickly and loaded the car. We left the coast behind and set off towards Catania.
Table of Contents
Our first stop was a local car wash to clean our rental Panda after the couple days ago adventures. Rinsing off the thick layer of dust left the vehicle looking fresh and ready for the road again. I could still see the scratches from those thorns when we attempted to see that damn waterfall.
Hotel in Catania – Hotel Palazzo Cerami
Our drive from Taormina to Catania was quite short as we didn’t make any stops, except car washing. We arrived to our new Hotel Palazzo Cerami and it looked really nice! It did look even fancier in the photos with a mirror next to the bed, but it was perfect anyway!
Roman Amphitheater in Catania
First stop today was at Roman Amphitheater in Catania. Constructed during the 2nd century AD, the Roman Amphitheatre of Catania stands as the largest and most complex ancient arena in Sicily, originally hosting thrilling gladiatorial games. Furthermore, builders crafted the massive, elliptical structure using dark basalt volcanic stone from Mount Etna contrasted with red bricks and white limestone, allowing it to seat up to 15,000 spectators and nearly double that with wooden bleachers. In addition, popular local legends suggest that the arena featured an aqueduct system designed to flood the floor for naumachiae (staged naval battles), while another famous tale claims that the veil of Saint Agatha miraculous stopped a devastating flow of molten lava right at the amphitheatre’s gates in 252 AD. On the other hand, mysterious urban myths persist regarding its subterranean tunnels, including a spooky Catanese legend about a school group that allegedly vanished while exploring the hidden underground passages.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Monuments | Roman Amphitheatre of Catania (Anfiteatro Romano di Catania) |
| Era | Imperial Roman Period (2nd Century AD, likely between the reigns of Emperors Hadrian and Antoninus Pius) |
| Age | Approximately 1,800–1,900 years old |
| External Dimensions | 25 metres long by 105 metres wide |
| Arena Dimension | 70 metres long by 50 metres wide |
| Capacity | Approximately 15,000 seated spectators (expanding up to 30,000 with temporary wooden scaffolding) |
| Primary Materials | Dark volcanic basalt/lava stone from Mount Etna, red bricks, white limestone, and decorative marble |
| Notable Features | 32-step tiered audience area (cavea), subterranean vault tunnels, and a central arena equipped for staged naval battles (naumachiae) via aqueducts |
Following the fall of the Western Roman Empire, the grand arena fell into disuse and became buried under centuries of urban development and volcanic ash. Furthermore, King Theodoric and later King Roger II repurposed the site, using its high-quality stone blocks as a convenient quarry to construct the nearby Catania Cathedral and city fortifications. In addition, local antiquarians began uncovering parts of the buried complex during the 18th century, paving the way for extensive archaeological excavations led by architect Filadelfo Fichera in 1904. Consequently, modern visitors stepping into Piazza Stesicoro can look down into the sunken ruins, offering a fascinating view into the ancient subterranean city surviving beneath Catania’s bustling streets.
The Church of San Biagio in Sant’Agata alla Fornace
Next to Roman Amphitheater was the Church of San Biagio in Sant’Agata alla Fornace. The church was first built in the late 16th century. It was founded by the Vannozza family and was dedicated to San Biagio, the patron saint of Catania. The building was destroyed in the 1693 earthquake and rebuilt in the 18th century. In the 19th century, the church was renovated and enlarged and the façade was decorated with polychrome marbles. It is renowned for its baroque architecture and its beautiful frescoes. We were lucky enough to run into a wedding ceremony, so we saw this long white carpet going down the stairs. We couldn’t go inside of the church though.
Chiosco di Villa Bellini
Chiosco di Villa Bellini is a historic kiosk, which we passed by wondering in Catania. It was designed in the 19th century by architect Ernesto Basile, and is considered one of the most important monuments in Catania. It is located in the middle of the Villa Bellini park, and it is said to be the symbol of the city. It is known for its neoclassical style, with a hexagonal shape and three levels topped by a domed roof. It was originally built to be a rest stop for visitors to the park, and it featured a cafe and a small shop. It was later used as an exhibition space and a cafe.
Villa Bellini
Spanning over 70,000 square metres in the heart of Catania, Villa Bellini—often referred to simply as A’ Villa by locals—stands as the city’s oldest and most iconic urban park. Furthermore, the grounds originally originated in the 18th century as the private pleasure garden of Ignazio Paternò Castello, the Prince of Biscari, featuring an elaborate labyrinth, fountains, and hedges. In addition, the municipality of Catania purchased the property in 1854, expanding it over subsequent decades before officially opening the site as a public park in 1883 dedicated to the legendary Catania-born opera composer Vincenzo Bellini. The land was reshaped to incorporate sweeping romantic pathways, terraced hillsides, and classical marble busts honouring prominent Italian figures along its central avenues.
Designed as an elegant leisure sanctuary, the park quickly became a focal point for civic gatherings and musical performances, featuring an ornate cast-iron pavilion (Chiosco della Musica) constructed near the upper terrace. Furthermore, the park’s lush grounds boast over a hundred plant species, including towering subtropical palms, ancient ficus trees, and exotic greenery alongside its famous floral clock and date calendar near the main staircase on Via Etnea. In addition, centuries of careful maintenance and restorations have ensured that the park maintains its romantic 19th-century charm.
Dating Portal in the Toilet
Spotting a handwritten message on the wall of the public toilet provided a rather amusing moment during our walk. The scribbled note close to the ceiling roughly translated to an explicit advertisement saying “ragazzo gay dotato att versatile”, complete with a personal phone number listed underneath. Seeing such a direct form of communication felt like stepping back into a pre-digital era before dating apps like Grindr existed. Reading this retro method of searching for a date made me laugh.
Scorching Streets of Catania
We continued wandering through the streets of Catania, though the scorching heat felt like walking directly inside a pizza oven. Hence, trying proper Sicilian pistachio gelato remains an absolute non-negotiable requirement when visiting Sicily Attempting to eat a frozen treat in that intense sun quickly turned into a high-stakes, race-against-time survival sport as liquid pistachio began running down our arms at record speed. Slurping up quickly melting ice cream before it completely covered our shoes became our main athletic activity of the afternoon.
The Cattedrale di Sant’Agata
Dedicated to the patron saint of Catania, the Cattedrale di Sant’Agata stands as a Baroque masterpiece and serves as the seat of the Archbishop of Catania. Furthermore, the original medieval structure was erected between 1078 and 1093 under the orders of Count Roger I of Sicily, serving as the island’s first Norman fortress-church built directly over the ancient Roman Achillean Baths. In addition, a catastrophic earthquake in February 1169 caused severe structural damage, which prompted extensive late 12th-century restorations after a devastating fire further damaged the building in 1194. The 15th century brought sweeping artistic expansions, adorning the interiors with elaborate frescoes, stucco work, and a magnificent main altar.
Tragedy struck on 11 January 1693 when a massive earthquake leveled most of Catania, completely destroying the cathedral and killing thousands of worshippers beneath its collapsing roof and bell tower. Rebuilding efforts commenced almost immediately in 1693 under architect Girolamo Palazzotto, allowing the newly restored cathedral to re-open for worship in 1711. In addition, master architect Giovanni Battista Vaccarini designed the spectacular modern Baroque façade between 1733 and 1761, ingeniously incorporating grey volcanic lava rock and white Syracuse limestone along with ancient Roman columns. Later architectural additions continued across the 19th century, culminating in the construction of the soaring grand dome in 1802 and the impressive new bell tower built by Carmelo Sciuto Patti between 1867 and 1869.
Palace of Chierici
One of the most prominent monuments in Catania is the Palazzo dei Chierici (Palace of the Seminary of the Clerics), which dominates the southern side of Piazza del Duomo. While an early seminary was established on this site in 1572 over the old Bishop’s Palace, the 16th-century structure was almost completely destroyed by the catastrophic Val di Noto earthquake of 1693. However, architect Alonzo di Benedetto led the monumental task of rebuilding the palace in the early 18th century, incorporating dark volcanic sand plaster set against gleaming white limestone from Ispica to create Catania’s signature high-contrast Sicilian Baroque look. On the other hand, architect Francesco Battaglia further expanded the structure in 1757, and a third storey was added in 1866 by Mario Di Stefano.
Integrated directly into the 16th-century city walls of Charles V, the palace connects to the adjacent Cathedral of Sant’Agata via a covered overpass spanning directly above the iconic Uzeda Gate (Porta Uzeda). Furthermore, after serving as a military barracks during the 19th century and enduring Allied bombing damage in World War II, the property was acquired by the Municipality of Catania in 1944. In addition, the restored complex now houses city financial offices alongside the Diocesan Museum (Museo Diocesano di Catania), which displays an extensive collection of sacred art and offers panoramic balcony views across the Elephant Fountain and Piazza del Duomo.
Beach Time in Catania
Following our sightseeing around the historic piazza, we decided to take a stroll towards the coastline to reach the local beach – Spiaggia Libera 1. Furthermore, navigating the sunny streets on foot turned out to be a significantly longer trek than we had originally planned. In addition, feeling the seaside breeze after such an extended walk made reaching the coast feel like a well-earned reward. We decided to walk all the way and it was further than we expected.
Relaxing along the coastline allowed us to enjoy a peaceful evening, sipping chilled beers that we had picked up from the local supermarket. A vibrant music festival was taking place just a few metres down the shore, which meant we essentially had front-row entertainment for free, even if the bass was admittedly a bit loud. Just to mention, the shoreline itself was noticeably covered in empty bottles and discarded cigarette butts, a rare sight and really sad one. It felt surprisingly prominent left garbage on this particular otherwise beautiful stretch of sandy beach.
Night Stroll in Catania
A night stroll in streets of Catania. Cattedrale di Sant’Agata at night. Palace of Chierici at night. Performers playing music and singing.
Basilica della Collegiata
The Basilica della Collegiata dates back to the 16th century. It was built by Giovan Battista Vaccarini, an architect and sculptor from Sicily, and is one of the most important monuments of the Baroque period. It was built to replace the old church of Santa Maria di Gesù, which had been destroyed in the 1693 earthquake. The new church was dedicated to the Virgin Mary and was given the title of Collegiata. The interior of the basilica is decorated with frescoes, statues and painted ceilings. It is also home to the remains of the martyrs of Catania, who were killed during the persecution of Christians in the Roman Empire.
The Fountain. of the elephant
The Fountain. of the elephant (Fontana dell’Elefante) in Catania is a 18th-century fountain was constructed as a homage to the elephant, a symbol of strength and wisdom, and is one of the most iconic symbols of the city.
The fountain was constructed by Giovanni Battista Vaccarini in 1736. The fountain consists of a marble elephant with an obelisk-like obelisk on its back, which is shaped like an Egyptian obelisk. The obelisk was a symbol of the Egyptian god of the sun, Ra. The fountain is also decorated with a spire, which symbolises the triumph of the Catholic Church over paganism.
The elephant dates back to Roman period, and is made of lava and black basalt. Its name comes from local legends about Eliodor, a Byzantine magician who rode an elephant into the town. Over time, this name was adapted to Liotru. As such, the people of Catania have long viewed the statue as a magical protector of the town from the eruptions of Mount Etna.
When we were visiting the square multiple times the musicians were always playing music and people would sit around the fountain enjoying the music.
University of Catania
Established in 1434 by King Alfonso V of Aragon, the University of Catania holds the distinction of being the oldest university in Sicily and the 13th oldest across all of Italy. Furthermore, originally founded under the name Studium Generale, the institution experienced remarkable growth throughout the 19th century as it became one of the country’s pioneers in offering degrees within modern scientific disciplines like chemistry, zoology, and botany. In addition, the 20th century brought further major expansions, broadening its academic scope to encompass a wide array of subjects ranging from law, philosophy, and economics to physics and engineering alongside its dedicated research centres.
Presently, the University of Catania stands as a premier educational institution within Sicily and remains one of the most prestigious academic centres in Italy. Furthermore, the campus welcomes a vibrant community of over 50,000 students, which includes approximately 4,000 international scholars arriving from more than 100 countries. In addition, the institution maintains a firm commitment to global academic collaboration through an extensive selection of international exchange programmes. Consequently, its rich historical legacy continues to foster a dynamic, world-class learning environment in the heart of the Mediterranean.
The day was finished and tomorrow we were planning to go to Etna Volcano.