Catania, Sicily’s black city

Catania is the capital of Sicilian Baroque and home of the finest prepared swordfish in the whole of Italy. The city is situated on the eastern shore of Sicily just below Mount Etna. The nickname "black city" originates from the volcanic tufa that makes up most of the local houses giving them a dark color scheme. Catania is a real Mediterranean city with warm winds blowing on the beach. The temperature may get high in June and July but the autumn has more rain and bearable heat. This is the time when Sicily gets green. Transport is relatively easy around the island. There are direct flights to Catania from most European cities but you’ll surely get there from Rome. Catania has a good mass transport system but the rest of Sicily is undeveloped. Motorways run through the island so it is recommended to rent a car and discover nearby cities. Most rental agencies offer promotions on weekends. Find them around the airport or at the railway station.

Why choose Catania?

There are many answers to this question. Let’s look around the city! Catania’s symbol is the u Liutru, an elephant made out of tufa with an Egyptian obelisk on its back. Giovanni Battista Vaccarini created this famous statue and he designed many important Baroque buildings as well. There are several explanations for the origin of the statue. One possibility is that the statue remembers dwarf elephants which once inhabited the island. Others say that a certain Heliodoros wanted to become the bishop of Catania, but he wasn’t elected so he became a wizard and transformed himself into an elephant.

Catania’s old town is a UNESCO World Heritage. The finest example to this is the cathedral rebuilt after the earthquake of 1693. Inside you can see the tomb of the famous opera composer Vincenzo Bellini. You can see through the glass floor the remains of the former Roman and Norman temple beneath the cathedral. You can admire more ancient ruins in the vicinity. The nearby amphitheatre found under the houses with the odeon discovered below the church of Saint Francis of Assisi. For the entrance fee you can walk around the ruins and see Sicily’s folk culture in the old museum houses.

A special thing to see is Catania’s market. It's open almost every day and everything is for sale! Fruits and fish are the best here but there are a lot of leather clothes and shoes too. The food sold here can be found in most restaurants. From the wide selection of meat the prosciuto ham, the salami, and the mortadella worth a try. Seafood is sold in an almost unimaginable variety from sea urchins to swordfish. The later is perfect with pasta in tomato sauce or grilled with olive oil. Cheese is also great at the market especially parmiggiano and seasoned ones. Try the arancino in a restaurant around the market. This is the local specialty, rice ball filled with Italian sauce or vegetables.

The Ursino castle has a unique medieval atmosphere with an archaeological exhibition inside. Walking in the town you’ll see the amazing façade of the Bellini University and the Etna in the background. Mount Etna can be visited with guided tours starting mostly from Catania. You can also try the Circumetna railway or take a bus. You have to walk the last few hundred meters though. Beaches are located mostly out of town but it’s easy to reach the centre. You’ll have plenty of opportunity to make small visits to nearby towns because both rails and highways run on the shore where cities are located. Messina, Syracuse are only an hour away and by car and Palermo is easily accessible too. Spend some time in Taormina’s picturesque town, see the huge ancient Greek theatre and enjoy the best beach in Sicily.