5 Sites to Tick Off Your List in Catania

As soon as you touch down in this east coast city you will want to jump in one of the taxis from Catania airport and get straight in to the heart of Sicily’s second largest city. And we don’t blame you! There is so much character and history to admire in this beautiful city – we’ve picked just a few of our favourites things. Taxis from Catania airport cease being simply a necessity once you begin seeing the incredible sights the city and the overwhelming Mount Etna have to offer.

Parco dell’Etna

The area around Mount Etna is a designated National Park where the most breathtaking and enchanting views of the volcano, the city and the Ionian Sea can be found. Take a leisurely stroll along the paths or climb right to the top depending on how adventurous you feel, either way it is an absolute must-visit.

Subterranean Catania

As you can imagine being at the foot of a volcano, the city was struck by an eruption in 1693 that buried parts of the city and its two rivers, Amenano and Lognina, as well as a whole lake, Nicito. Mystery-hunters will be glad to hear they can still visit the surviving parts of the old city and take a peek in to the past.

Castello Ursino

This castle has survived an earthquake and a volcanic eruption when its moat filled up with lava so it’s safe to say it’s quite a formidable site to visit. Having been home to the Aragonese dynasty and later a prison, it now houses the Civic Museum of Catania and has artefacts dating right back to Ancient Greece and Rome. The square plan and tall circular towers may be quite common of castles but the treasures within its walls are a wonder to behold.

Piazza Duomo

A host of beautiful Baroque buildings are found at the Piazza Duomo square, dating back to the eighteenth century. The Elephant Fountain in the centre of the square is just waiting to be photographed – it’s a tall obelisk sat atop a statue of an elephant. Now, that’s something you don’t see very often! The elephant is the symbol of the city so you get a bit of history and an interesting photo all in one. Fontana dell’Amenano is the gushing marble fountain dedicated to Amenano, one of the two rivers running through Catania. The city’s cathedral, Duomo di Catania, can be found here too.

Via Etnea

Piazza Duomo is connected to the foot of Mount Etna via this street, where the volcano’s epic stature can be appreciated. Piazza Stesicoro, the most vibrant square in Catania, can be found alongside elegant churches and the natural wonders of Etna, all down this one street. You’ll want to take your time venturing down here, that’s for sure.

How to Get There

EasyJet fly direct to Catania from £46 each way from Manchester, Bristol, Gatwick and Luton, and you can be viewing the sights there in around 3 hours. Shuttle Direct run pre-booked, private taxis from Catania airport with knowledgeable drivers who can’t do enough to help you!

Lukas Johannes is a driver for Shuttle Direct, the number one provider of shared and private airport transfers all over Europe and northern Africa. If you’re looking for the most affordable taxis from Catania Airport, Lukas and his colleagues can make sure that you and your luggage get to and from the airport swiftly and safely.

Writer and Online Marketing Manager in London.