Catania: Baroque UNESCO Heritage at Mount Etna
Accommodation in Catania
Catania showcases traces of Sicilian history and Baroque elements; the city lies near Mount Etna. The city is one of eight urban components of the UNESCO World Heritage Site “Late Baroque Towns of the Val di Noto”. In Catania, this World Heritage Site encompasses specific areas of the city, not the entire historic centre. Piazza del Duomo and the Cathedral of Sant’Agata are considered the Baroque heart of Catania at the foot of Mount Etna.
Culture and History
The ancient theatre of Catania was built in the 1st century AD over an existing Greek structure. Performances are held there again during the summer months, allowing the site to be used as a stage once more. The excavated area of the Roman amphitheatre is also open to the public. 3D reconstructions show what the structure may originally have looked like.
Palazzo Biscari is considered a symbol of Catania’s Baroque architecture. Its rooms include a Rococo hall with elaborate decoration made of mirrors, stucco and frescoes. Visits are possible with advance booking; during these visits, a descendant of the princely family talks about the palace’s past and family stories.
Monasteries and Tours
The historic San Benedetto Monastery on Via Crociferi is UNESCO-listed in Catania and can be visited as part of a guided tour. Guided tours of the Benedictine monastery are offered in Italian and English. The Monastery of San Nicolò l’Arena is an example of late Baroque Sicilian architecture and is one of the largest Benedictine complexes in Europe. It houses a Roman domus, cloisters and a hanging garden. It also offers a daily scheduled tour that is open to everyone.
Cityscape and Hidden Traces
Over the centuries, lava flows from Mount Etna have repeatedly covered traces of Catania’s past. As a result, artefacts lie hidden beneath the city. Another historical testimony of the city can be found by the fish market: it is located in a tunnel of the former city wall, which was built under Charles V. At the same time, the fish market is considered a place where visitors can immerse themselves in Sicilian street food culture.
Festivals and Local Specialities
The celebrations in honour of Saint Agatha in Catania culminate on 3, 4 and 5 February. The procession passes the places of her martyrdom and follows the city’s oldest streets. During it, worshippers carry richly decorated monumental candleholders known as “Candelore”.
The connection to the tradition of Saint Agatha is also evident in the pastry shops. There, the sweets “Cassateddi di Sant’Aita”, also known as “Minni di Sant’Aita”, as well as “Olivette”, are offered. The drinks served at Catania’s kiosks are prepared, among other things, with mineral water from the slopes of Mount Etna, syrups and soda water. Syrups made from Sicilian citrus fruits are often used for this purpose. At the traditional kiosks, passers-by were also offered “acqua e zammù”, water with a few drops of anise extract.
Etna Park and the Regional Surroundings
In the wider regional surroundings of Catania, the paths in Etna Park run mostly over more recent and historic lava flows, through wooded and treeless areas, and across land that has been used for agriculture for many years. The regional landscape thus brings together volcanic traces, vegetation and cultivated areas.
Getting There
An AMTS Catania bus connects Catania-Fontanarossa Airport railway station with the airport terminal.
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More pages for nearby places: Linguaglossa, Nicolosi, Zafferana Etnea, Ragalna.
To the higher-level travel overview: Sicily.
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