Italy Dreams

Tag: Catania

  • Mount Etna Volcano, the Fish Market, and More: Here’s What to Know Before You Visit Catania, Sicily

    Saint Agatha Cathedral in Catania, Sicily. Saint Agatha is the patron saint of the city.

    If you’re planning a visit to Sicily, Italy, and you’re wondering if you should visit Catania, located in eastern Sicily and the second largest city on the island, here’s our simple answer:

    If you’re flying in or out of Sicily via the Catania airport, stay a night or two there so you can check out some of its highlights. If you like vibrant city life, spend some time there.

    It’s not going to be the peaceful experience you’ll have in smaller Sicily towns, but Catania definitely has history, passion, tasty food, and cool views of Mount Etna volcano.

    Umbrellas decorate the view in one part of Catania’s city center.

    Let me walk you through my two nights in Catania and share a few tips that may help you. I stayed there in late February when it was off-season in Italy.

    A quick note: I was traveling solo as a female but sometimes use “we” in my article to avoid using “I” all of the time.

    A street painting of Mount Etna. The view of the real thing is even more impressive.

    Some Quick Facts About Catania, Sicily

    Before sharing visit details, let’s load you up with a few facts about Catania, so you can put your visit in context:

    —The city has about 315,000 residents, and there are about a million people in the general area. The city also has beaches although we didn’t make it to them. The beach areas received some damage during Cyclone Harry in January 2026.

    —Catania got hit by a bad earthquake in 1693 and was rebuilt in a Baroque style using black lava stone from the famous Mount Etna volcano. This earned Catania its nickname of “the Black City.”

    —The historic city center of Catania is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

    —Catania’s been around for a loooonnnng time–since 8th century BC.

    —Catania has an underground city that you can tour. It features Roman-era aqueducts and more.

    A view of Via Etnea, a well-traveled street in downtown Catania, Sicily.

    Sights to See in Catania, Sicily…and the Scoop on Staying There

    OK, let’s get to it! I arrived in Catania on a Saturday evening, tired from my trip (I flew from the U.S. to Rome and then Rome to Catania) but also eager to explore the city. Pretty quickly, it reminded me of Lima, Peru, which I’ve visited a few times. Beautiful architecture with some gritty city life around it. Not gritty as in unsafe or ugly, just….a lot going on. Definitely a city with stories to tell.

    The four-room B&B where I stayed (shout out to Opera Boutique) was located on a hill about a block or so from Via Etnea, the popular pedestrian-friendly street filled with cafes and shops. After getting settled, I quickly made a beeline toward Via Etnea and watched my step heading down the steep decline.

    Right away, the rush of city life and energy was there. Young people–or mostly young, especially compared to the people I saw in SIcily’s smaller towns–were all around, dressed in black and flirting with each other, vaping, sometimes arguing. Street performers did what they could to attract passerby and get a few Euros tossed their way. Servers from restaurants beckoned passerby to try the pasta, pizza, or drinks at their place.

    Catania’s famous elephant statue, nicknamed u Liotru in Sicilian.

    I strolled for awhile before deciding where to eat, taking in the crowd but also the view of Saint Agatha Cathedral (closed for the evening) and the famous elephant statue called u Liotru that symbolizes Catania–located right across from Saint Agatha. It’s a good stopping point, but it also was crowded on Saturday night.

    Pesto pizza in Catania. It was as tasty as it looks.

    I eventually stopped for pesto pizza (delizioso) and a bright orange aperol spritz. OK, two of them.

    After getting a little lost, I eventually made it back to my B&B. While my phone’s GPS was helpful overall during my Sicily trip, it sometimes got things wrong and sent me on a goose chase that evening. I recommend that you have a backup plan for situations like that, whether it means paying attention to where you’re going as if you didn’t have GPS or keeping your phone charged well. Also, take a screenshot of where you’re staying and its address.

    Inside Saint Agatha Cathedral.

    The next morning, I enjoyed Via Etnea with far fewer people and far-off views of beautiful Mount Etna. I was able to go inside Saint Agata Cathedral (called Cattedrale di Sant’Agata or Basilica Cattedrale Sant’Agata in Italian) and learned a little more about its history. It was originally built in 1078 but then was almost completely lost by an earthquake in 1169 and then another earthquake in 1693. It was rebuilt in its current Baroque style and is now a UNESCO World Heritage site.

    Another view in Saint Agatha Cathedral. It’s kind of hard to see, but there was a small service going on toward the left.

    The cathedral honors Saint Agatha of Sicily who lived in the third century. Saint Agatha is the patron saint of Catania and of breast cancer patients. It’s also said that she helps to protect the city against volcanic eruptions. There’s a massive festival to celebrate Saint Agatha that’s held in early February in Catania. I was there just a couple of weeks after the festival.

    A Sicilian Sunday morning flea market.

    I came across a flea market in the same area where the fish market is held Monday to Saturday (more about that below). As a lover of outdoor markets here in Florida, it was great to compare flea markets in the Sunshine State versus Sicily, especially one I didn’t expect to encounter. As it turns out, flea markets still give you a great sense of the local culture, with old albums, vases, books, ceramic plates, and other items that were (mostly) unique to Sicily.

    Sicily is well-known for its desserts. We spotted these Minne di Sant’Agata at Prestpino Cafe in Catania.

    I enjoyed breakfast at Prestipino Cafe, where I ordered un espresso e un cornetto, per favore (an espresso and a croissant, please), along with a fresh-squeezed orange juice. Sicily is known for its citrus fruits. Everything was delicious, but the chocolate filling in my croissant got messy and I noticed a family of tourists gently laughing at my mess. Oops!

    I took several pics inside Prestipino of the traditional Sicily desserts they had on display, giving me a sneak preview of things I’d try later in my trip.

    I eventually made it back to the B&B and took an Uber to get my rental car. Since I’m focusing here on Catania, I’ll skip the rest of my trip (although you can read about it here) and jump ahead to my second night in Catania–the last night of my trip before returning home.

    My return to Catania got me into the city around 12:30 in the afternoon, where the B&B hostess let me know if I wanted to make it to the Saturday fish market, I’d have to hustle. I did just that and again, as a perennial fan of outdoors markets, it didn’t disappoint. There were so many types of fish around. While I wasn’t looking to buy any to cook, they were still great to see for pictures and the atmosphere.

    Calamari for sale at the Catania Fish Market.

    Much like my previous Saturday in Catania, the city was bustling and there were even more tourists than before. In addition to the fast-moving feel of the fish market, restaurants were doing a brisk business and I saw signs for horse meat (carne di cavallo), which is famous in Catania and a few other parts of Italy.

    The fish market was a definitely a highlight of my time in Catania.

    Ultimately, my need for sweets prevailed and I purchased some praline-style almonds from a street vendor–almonds are yet another agricultural item well grown in Sicily. This may not have been a balanced lunch but they were just what I wanted. We’ve all had those days, right?

    Yummy nuts in Catania make for a good street-food snack.

    The street area was quite busy (and honestly, smoky from people who smoke/vape). Beyond a pizza for dinner, those were the highlights of that day in Catania.

    I made it to the airport early the next morning with some confusion as a few of us thought our ticket counter hadn’t yet opened, only to realize it was open in a different part of the terminal. There’s sometimes confusion like that in Sicily, so make sure to advocate for yourself when something is unclear during your visit. Knowing some basic Italian can help.

    If I were to return to Catania, I would make time for at least a half-day tour of Mount Etna (elevation: 11,000 feet). It’s one of the oldest and most active volcanoes in Europe, located in Etna National Park. Although I was traveling through Sicily independently, I would want a tour for Etna as you can only reach the summit craters with a certified guide, and the guides can help instruct you on any safety measures needed. I recently learned about a tour operator/DMC called Enjoy Your Sicily through their Facebook group Sicily Travel Tips, and I would reach out to them for an Etna tour. (They also do private tours/experiences around other parts of Sicily.) Next time!

    Vendors working hard at the Catania Fish Market. Look at that large fresh catch toward the middle.

    Tips for Your Catania Visit

    If you plan to stay in Catania before and/or after exploring other parts of Sicily like we did, here are some tips to consider.

    —Stay near the street Via Etnea. This pedestrian-friendly street is the hub of activity in downtown Catania and you’ll be just minutes from the Saint Agatha Cathedral, the fish market, and other famous sites. It may be a little loud on the weekends but again, if your stay is brief, that will pass quickly.

    —Follow common-sense safety tips. Catania was the only place during my stay where I felt a little more guarded than usual–not completely unsafe, but cautious. Avoid having anything valuable in pockets that can be easily reached. Walk like you know where you’re going. Watch out for strangers who may try to ask for money or lord knows what else (one strange-looking man approached me for something on Sunday morning but I didn’t understand what he said). That all said, I got lost on my way back to the B&B on my first night and was wandering around and never felt completely unsafe–just lost. I eventually called an Uber to get me back to my place.

    A view inside a Mazzone location, where we bought more candied almonds.

    —Wait to rent a car until you are leaving the city. It may seem convenient to land at the Catania Fontanarossa Airport and get your rental car and then go stay in the city, right? After all, the rental car companies are all right there beside the airport. Right? Wrong. False. If you plan to stay overnight in Catania, we recommend for your own peace of mind to return to the airport area the next day and get your car. Driving in Catania seemed a bit chaotic, and I was thankful not to have to worry about driving there or find parking–especially after traveling hours to reach Sicily from the U.S. The ride from the airport to the B&B was only 15 minutes, so it’s not a huge trek back to fetch your rental car.

    —Have a little cash on hand. It’s true that we live in a cashless world, even in Sicily for the most part. However, Catania is one of those cities that charges a tourist tax. Unfortunately for everyone involved, the tourist tax can’t be charged as part of your online booking. For smaller accomodations, it’s easier for them to request that tax in cash (Euros) so they don’t have to pay expensive bank fees. I ended up having to go to an ATM to get cash, but it reminded me that I should always have some real cash on hand.

    —Enjoy trying different foods. Even if gritty urban life isn’t your thing, Catania knocks it out of the park with its food options. Whether you want to try some of the best offerings at the fish market, go exotic with the horse meat, fill up on dessert items, or just have traditional pizza and vino, it’s all there waiting for you.

    —Don’t miss Mount Etna! We said it before but we’ll say it again. Not having time for a Mount Etna tour was probably the biggest regret of my trip, so we’ll save you any heartache and say: Make time to go see this unique volcano.

    Buon viaggio!

  • A Visit to Sicily, Italy, Off-Season May Be Just the Trip You Need

    Sciacca, Sicily. Picture shared by Enza Difalco.

    Sicily sizzles in the summer.

    Really.

    It sizzles not just with the weather, which can reach 100 Fahrenheit (38 Celsius) during some of its heat weaves. It also can sizzle with an exploding number of visitors–5.5 million of them in 2023 and a whopping 7 million in 2024.

    Sicily’s beauty as featured in shows like “White Lotus” surely boosted its visitor numbers, not to mention the number of cruises that make their way to this southernmost Italian island region.

    Even if you have your heart set on going to Sicilia, as the island region is called in Italian, the throngs of people may make you feel like you’re at a theme park in the middle of summer.

    “You end up fighting crowds, being shoulder-to-shoulder navigating narrow alleys, and sitting in line in famous ‘insta-famous’ photo spots,” says Angela Isherwood, founder and owner of the boutique travel agency Olive & Atlas Travel Design. “It can feel like Disneyland as opposed to an authentic Sicilian experience.”

    Here’s a possible solution: Visit Sicily off-season! November to March can be a suprisingly great time to visit. And, because of the island’s location, you’ll get cooler temps but not the punishing cold found in northern Italy.

    Faro di Punta Secca/Lighthouse of Punta Secca, Sicily. Shared by Stefania Lampedecchia.
    Mount Etna, Sicily, Italy. Photo from Wikimedia Commons.

    With Mount Etna there, you can even go skiing during an off-season visit to Sicily, Italy.

    Read on while we lean on travel experts to tell us what’s great to about visiting Sicily off-season, a few potential drawbacks, and then some closing tips.

    By the way: Visiting other destinations in Italy off-season also can be terrific, as we reported a few months ago. You can find that article here.

    IImage shared by Enza DiFalco.

    Here Is What’s Great About Visiting Sicily Off-Season

    Let’s get into the pros of booking a trip to Sicily off-season.

    “Winter in Siciliy isn’t about beach clubs,” says Bryan Lewis, a European travel expert and the founder/CEO of Tenon Tours. “It’s about culture, cuisine, history, and everyday life. For travelers who want depth over crowds, off-season Sicily delivers a far richer experience.”

    “I just love how slow and real everything feels,” says Isabella Rossi, CPO at the San Francisco-based company Fruzo. Rossi and her husband travel to Sicily every year as his family is from there. “When it’s not the busy season, you get the island to yourself. The streets in towns like Cefalù aren’t crowded,so you can actually chat with shopkeepers and experience how locals live.” Cefalù is a popular beach town in western Sicily.

    Isherwood echoes the thoughts on connecting with locals. “Off-season allows you to spend more time with the local community and experience true Sicilian hospitality. People are more willing and able to spend extra time and attention on your experience,” she says.

    Sicily’s Valley of the Temples is open year-round, although you may find shorter hours. Check in advance.

    Of course, there’s a real price advantage, too.

    “Prices are generally lower, and it’s much easier to find availability at the best restaurants, which often feel more authentic and relaxed during this time of year,” says Simone Amorico, co-founder of the Rome-based DMC Access Italy.

    What Are the Drawbacks of Visiting Sicily Off-Season?

    Now, we’ll address the drawbacks of visiting Sicilia off-season. Honestly, they shouldn’t be deal-breakers unless a place you want to visit or stay at is completely closed in the off months:

    —You probably won’t swim in the ocean or have a beach day. Of course, you should check out the beaches as they can be beautiful year-round. Yet don’t plan on a day for frolicking in the sea unless you’re a polar bear.

    —Similarly, swimming pools and beach clubs will likely be closed and will reopen as the weather warms up.

    —Some restraurants and attractions also may be closed. “Italians value their leisure time, so you might find that a specific restaurant or boat tour is closed,” Rossi says.

    —The weather can be shaky. “You’ll get some sunny days and some random rainy ones,” Rossi says. The average temperature in January and February is 52 degrees, and the wettest months of the year in Sicily are December and January, with an average 4 inches of rain.

    —There may be less public transportation available.

    5 Tips to Properly Prepare for Your Off-Season Trip to Sicily

    OK–you’re on your favorite travel booking site and ready to book that trip you’ve always wanted to take to Sicily. You’ve carved out time between November and March for your trip. Here are some final tips.

    1. Check schedules online before you visit your preferred attractions. If you have your heart set on visiting a certain museum, restaurant, or other attraction in Sicily off-season, double check online first to make sure it’ll be open.

    Generally speaking, attractions in bigger cities will be open, Amorico says.

    “Palermo, Catania, and Siracusa are excellent destinations in winter, as they remain lively year-round,” he explains. “Major archaeological sites such as the Valley of the Temples, Segesta, Selinunte, and the Greek Theatre in Siracusa are open, as well as top museums across the island.”

    That said, you don’t want to plan your trip in Sicily (or anywhere, really) around visiting a certain destination that may be closed for season or another reason.

    It’s ALWAYS a good time of year to enjoy Sicilian foods, including cannoli.

    2. Plan to enjoy local in-season foods. The food scene in Sicily shines in the cooler molnths, Lewis says. “Autumn brings olive oil harvests, pistachios from Bronte, wild mushrooms, and heartier Sicilian dishes that rarely get attention in summer,” he says. Rossi recommends winter food like artichokes and fresh sardines. Sicily’s citrus season is in the cooler months, from December to May–similar to where we live (Florida). Of course, we probably don’t need to tell you that Italian food–and in this case, Sicilan food–is always in fashion no matter the season.

    3. Stay flexible. This tip has several purposes. First, anytime you visit Sicily, expect to be on “Sicily time.” The island is famous for running on its own schedule, so it’s not the place to be in type A mode, rushing around. Second, with more places potentially closed or having reduced hours off-season, you’ll need to go with the flow even more.

    A Sicilian church. Picture shared by Stefania Lampedecchia.

    4. Don’t neglect the charm of small towns. As mentioned, the well-known areas like Palermo, Taormina, Siracusa, Noto, and Mount Etna will still have a lot to see, with less crowds. Yet there are other areas to see as well.

    “Coastal towns are quieter, but that’s part of the appeal,” Lewis says. Consider checking out small towns with year-round residents, such as Modica and Ragusa. Work with travel experts, like those quoted in this story, to identify smaller towns off-the-beaten path to explore.

    5. Relax! You’re in Sicily off-season, with fewer crowds, some glorious food, and cooler weather. Lucky you. “The off-season is perfect for long lunches and sitting in a quiet square with a book,” Rossi says.

    A final thought: Sicily can still be wonderful to visit during tourist season–we recently wrote about a great wellness resort in southeastern Sicilia that we think is worth visiting any time of year. Yet if you must visit in-season, work with travel experts to identify the best ways to navigate crowds and still have a great experience. We always appreciate the expertise of Rick Steves as well.

    Buon viaggio!

    Mount Etna may be part of your travel plans, no matter when you visit Sicily, Italy. Picture from Wikimedia Commons.