Things to see in Catania – page 2

Catania is a city of 310,000 people (2019) on the eastern coast of Sicily at the foot of Mount Etna, the biggest volcano in Europe. It is the second largest city in Sicily with the metropolitan area reaching one million inhabitants, a major transport hub, economic centre and a university city where you will enjoy a busy downtown and an active nightlife. Catania is also well known for its particular baroque architecture and urban design (the downtown area is a World Heritage Site, along with all the Val di Noto area), consequences of the great earthquake of 1693 after which the city had to be rebuilt, like most of eastern Sicily.

World Heritage Sites: Piazza del Duomo. An attractive, lively baroque square. Here you can find the Fontana dell'Elefante (Elephant Fountain) or U Liotru - the symbol of the city. There are three buildings here that are World Heritage Sites. The square is also an entrance to the elegant via Etnea, the main shopping street. Cattedrale di Sant'Agata (Duomo), Piazza del Duomo. An imposing cathedral, well worth visiting. Also see for Terme Achilliane and Museo Diocesano which are located there. Museo Diocesano (Diocesan Museum). The collection of the museum contains various religious artefacts from the Cathedral and some other churches around. Palazzo degli Elefanti (Palazzo Municipale) (on the north side of Piazza del Duomo). Construction begin in 1696. In 1736 a statue of an elephant carrying an obelisk was erected in front of the palazzo. Palazzo dei Chierici (Palace of Clerks). Chiesa della Badia di Sant'Agata. Castello Ursino (Castello Svevo di Catania). It was built in the 13th century as a royal castle of the Kingdom of Sicily, and ilater became the seat of the Sicilian Parliament.