Catania Apartment

Catania is Sicily's second largest city and one of Sicily's most interesting destinations. More and more tourists have opened their eyes to Catanias charm and the city has become a popular holiday destination. Here you will find historical sights, beautiful buildings, atmospheric streets, cozy squares, shopping opportunities, a vibrant city life and a long golden sandy beach. If you add that Catania has 347 sunny days a year and is thus the city with the second most hours of sunshine in Europe, this makes Catania the perfect destination.

Catania is located at the foot of Europe's largest and most active volcano, Etna. Lava from the volcano has partially buried the city seven times throughout history and in 1693 Catania was razed to the ground during a volcanic eruption and earthquake. The city was rebuilt in a beautiful baroque style and most of the buildings have a dark grey colour as they are built of lava stone. The old town is on UNESCO's list of world cultural heritage.

Catania has everything you need to have the perfect holiday: sun, beach, sea, culture, history, nature and opportunities to be active. Sicily has a pleasant Mediterranean climate most months of the year and Catania gives you wonderful holiday experiences all year round. Here, everything is in place for a memorable holiday, whether you want an active or relaxing holiday.

In the heart of the city you will find the lively Piazza del Duomo with the beautiful Cathedral of St. Agatha, which is known as one of the best examples of Baroque architecture in Catania. The cathedral has been destroyed and rebuilt several times due to earthquakes and lava eruptions from the Etna volcano. The cathedral is dedicated to the martyr Sant Agatha who is the patron saint of Catania. The cathedral is built on the ruins of ancient Roman baths, Terme Achilliane, and the remains of the Roman baths and the river Amemano can be experienced under the cathedral. Other impressive historic Baroque buildings around the piazza are the Town Hall, the Palazzo degli Elefanti, and the Palazzo dei Chierci.

In Piazza del Duomo you will find the magnificent elephant fountain, Fontana dell`Elefante, and the equally impressive Amenano fountain. The elephant fountain, which is made of black lava stone, is the town's trademark and included in the municipal coat of arms. The elephant, u Liotru, carries an Egyptian obelisk and it is said that the obelisk itself has magical powers that help to "temper Etna's temper".

The Amenano River initially ran above ground level through the town, but was buried under lava from an eruption in the seventeenth century. The river now flows under the city, and the only place where it is visible is at the Amenano Fountain.

At Piazza Stesicoro along the main pedestrian street Via Etnea you will find an impressive 2,000-year-old amphitheater, Anfiteatro Romano, and a smaller arena, Teatro Romano-Odeon. The Roman theater was the largest of all the amphitheatres in Sicily and could seat more than 15,000 spectators. You can only see a small part of the amphitheater from street level, but several tunnels are accessible below ground level.

A couple of blocks north of Piazza del Duomo you can explore Castello Ursino, the formidable royal castle from the 13th century. Here you can experience beautiful religious works of art and an extensive collection of first editions of Christian literature from all over Europe.

The famous fish market, La Pescheria, can be found right behind the Amenano Fountain in Piazza del Duomo. The fish market is one of the largest in Italy, and has an unique and lively atmosphere that must be experienced when in Catania. Here, the day's fresh catch is prepared with impressive precision by enthusiastic fishmongers who shout and gesture to catch the customers attention. In addition to freshly caught fish, you will find stalls with meat, various fresh fruits, vegetables and nuts from the local area.

In Sicily, outdoor markets have been a tradition since the 8th century when the island was under Arab control, and besides the fish market, the Piazza Carlo Alberto market in the square just off Corso Sicilia is popular.

The city's main shopping street, Via Etnea, stretches from Piazza del Duomo and 3 km up towards Etna. This is one of the busiest streets in the city and here you will find cozy small shops, modern department stores and several restaurants and cafes. In fact, there are around a hundred local restaurants, breweries, pubs and pizzerias in the surrounding streets. Seven churches and several beautiful palaces are built along Via Etnea.

The street connects two of the city's greatest attractions, Piazza Duomo and Villa Bellini, which is considered one of Italy's most exquisite public gardens. Here you can relax in the shady gardens and admire the view up to the volcano.

Catania is known for its lively nightlife thanks to the presence of many students and tourists. In Via Gemmellaro and Via Santa Filomena, the parallel streets of Via Etnea, you will find a wide selection of good restaurants, charming cafes, atmospheric pubs and trendy cocktail bars and champagne bars.

Mercati Generali is a popular club located on the outskirts of Catania and several live concerts are organized here. In the neighboring town of Aci Castello, you will find the spectacular club Banacher Disco, which attracts revellers from all over the island. After sunset, the lidos along the beaches transform into bars and beach clubs.

If you are looking for relaxing days of sun and swimming, you will find the 18 km long golden sandy beach, La Playa, on the south side of the city. On the beach there are several areas, lidos, where you can hire sunbeds and parasols. The lidos have their own restaurants, cafes, changing rooms and some also have activity areas, playgrounds and their own pool. There are also free areas where you can enjoy beach life with the sea on one side and majestic Mount Etna on the other. North of the center you will find the black lava stone beach of San Giovanni Li Cuti. You have to cross large lava rocks to reach the sea, but in the summer months large wooden decks with sunbeds and parasols are built. Here the locals bathe all year round in the crystal clear sea.

Catania is a fantastic holiday destination where you can experience historical sights, Italian gastronomy, shopping, relaxation on the beach and much more. Catania is also a perfect starting point for exploring other tourist attractions and historically unique cities such as the baroque cities of Noto, Ragusa and Modica, charming Taormina with its famous Greek amphitheater and Sircusa, which in antiquity was one of the leading states in the Mediterranean world. Here you will really be able to experience a holiday rich in impressions, experiences and relaxation. A visit to Catania is guaranteed to be an unforgettable experience.