Catania – A Gateway City of Sicily

Sicily is one of the most popular regions for tourists to visit in Italy. City breaks in either Palermo or Catania, the two gateway cities of the island, offer an opposite, but equally exciting, introduction to the Sicilian way of life.

Palermo may be considered the more traditional of the two, but Catania, despite its modernity and sense of commerce, still has its share of historic and culturally significant sites, enough to rival anywhere else in Italy. City breaks to this Ionian Coast paradise, with its lava-stone buildings and active night scene, offer not only modern facilities and an urban lifestyle, but a glimpse into age-old traditions, architectural masterpieces (including the oldest university in Sicily), archaeological treasures, and even scars and remnants of Mt. Etna’s cataclysmic eruptions.

Piazza del Duomo

This UNESCO Heritage Site should definitely be your first stop when you visit Sicily while on holiday in Italy. City breaks to Catania wouldn’t be complete without taking in the beauty of a Baroque church, and the stunning façade of the Cattedrale di Sant' Agata is widely recognised to be one of the finest examples of the style. Fashioned out of volcanic rock, the church was built to replace a Norman cathedral, which was destroyed by earthquake in 1693. The church houses St. Agatha’s relics, as well as the tomb of Vincenzo Bellini, Sicily’s greatest musician. The Duomo is also the site of Fontana dell'Elefante, a whimsical fountain built in 1736, which features a smiling elephant (locally known as Liotru) with an upturned trunk bearing an Egyptian obelisk. According to legend, the obelisk was imbibed with magical powers to help keep Mt. Etna’s eruptions in check. Magical or not, the fountain is certainly one of the most beloved and most photographed monuments in Catania.

Roman Ruins

Although ravaged by time and earthquakes (such as the famous one in 1693), Catania still displays the remnants of being one of the most prosperous ancient cities in the country. Your itinerary should include a visit to the sunken ruins of the Anfiteatro Romano di Catania (Roman Amphitheatre) in Piazza Stesicoro, to reveal just a hint of the glory that was Rome. This ancient stadium where gladiators battled once held seating for 16,000 spectators. With an inner perimeter of approximately 193 metres, and extending as far south as Via Penninello, it was second in size only to the Colosseum in Rome.

Terme della Rotonda

The remnants of Achillea Thermae, the ancient and complex thermal baths of Catania, are another must-see attraction during your visit to this part of Italy. City breaks need to pack a lot into the itinerary, but this site should not be missed. This complex of interconnected quadrangular buildings provide yet another insight into the lifestyle of ancient Romans. The largest of the buildings is a great hall with an apse, from which the site gets its name. Beside the baths is an ancient pagan temple (the oldest in Catania) upon which a Christian church dedicated to the Virgin Mary was later built.

Carolyn Spinks is COO of ABTOI - The Association of British Travel Organisers to Italy. If you’re looking for the perfect holiday in Italy, city breaks or longer visits, the LoveItaly website provides information, contact details of Italian tour operator members, insider tips, year round special offers and information on everything from beach holidays in Sardinia, cycling in Sicily, to a wedding or honeymoon in Tuscany.

Writer and Online Marketing Manager in London.