# Essential Catania Travel Guide: What to See & Do **Discover Catania: Sicily’s Baroque City Beneath Mount Etna** Catania is a city of striking contrasts, where ancient ruins, lively markets, volcanic stone and grand Baroque architecture come together on Sicily’s eastern coast. Set beneath Mount Etna, Italy’s most active volcano, the city has been repeatedly reshaped by eruptions, earthquakes and successive civilizations. ## Catania’s Layered History Founded by Greek settlers in the 8th century BC, Catania later came under Roman, Byzantine, Arab, Norman and Spanish influence. This complex history is visible throughout the city, from its Roman theaters and medieval institutions to its churches and other religious buildings. The catastrophic earthquake of 1693 led to an almost complete reconstruction of Catania. The result is the distinctive black-and-white streetscape associated with the modern city. Lava stone from Mount Etna gives many buildings a dark, dramatic character, while pale limestone details create a striking contrast. ## Best Things to See in Catania’s Historic Center Catania’s historic center is the natural starting point for anyone looking for things to do in Catania. ### Piazza del Duomo and Saint Agatha’s Cathedral Piazza del Duomo is dominated by Saint Agatha’s Cathedral and its famous elephant fountain. From the square, streets lined with churches, palaces and cafés reveal the city’s characteristic Baroque architecture. ### Piscaria Fish Market Nearby, the bustling Piscaria fish market offers a vivid glimpse into Catania’s energetic everyday life. Its lively atmosphere reflects the city’s strong connection to local food and daily Sicilian culture. ### Roman Theater and Monastery of San Nicolò l’Arena The Roman Theater and the vast Monastery of San Nicolò l’Arena reveal earlier layers beneath Catania’s Baroque cityscape. Together with Biscari Palace and the Abbey of Saint Agatha, they add historical depth and architectural variety to the urban landscape. ## Food and the Catania Experience Food is central to any visit to Catania. Local specialties include pasta alla Norma, prepared with eggplant, tomato and ricotta salata, as well as seafood, pastries and Etna wines. Catania can feel untidy and intense in places, but this raw atmosphere is part of its identity. For travelers wondering what to see in Catania, the city’s enduring appeal lies in the way its history, volcanic landscape and everyday Sicilian life remain inseparably connected. ## Things to do in Catania 5 places in Catania with a Neywo audio guide. Each one starts telling its story as you reach it. - Cathedral of Catania — cathedral - Monastery of St. Nicholas Arena — arena - Museo Storico dello Sbarco in Sicilia (Allied Landings Museum) — museum - Palazzo Biscari (Biscari Palace) — palace - Roman Theater of Catania — Roman theater ## Walk Catania with Neywo Neywo turns Catania into a self-guided audio tour. Stories arrive as you reach the place they belong to, and the route reshapes when you wander off it. ## More in Sicily - [Cefalù](https://neywo.com/destinations/italy/sicily/cefalu.md) - [Erice](https://neywo.com/destinations/italy/sicily/erice.md) - [Ispica](https://neywo.com/destinations/italy/sicily/ispica.md) - [Lipari](https://neywo.com/destinations/italy/sicily/lipari.md) - [Messina](https://neywo.com/destinations/italy/sicily/messina.md) - [Noto](https://neywo.com/destinations/italy/sicily/noto.md) - [Palermo](https://neywo.com/destinations/italy/sicily/palermo.md) - [Piazza Armerina](https://neywo.com/destinations/italy/sicily/piazza-armerina.md) - [Ragusa](https://neywo.com/destinations/italy/sicily/ragusa.md) - [Randazzo](https://neywo.com/destinations/italy/sicily/randazzo.md) - [Scicli](https://neywo.com/destinations/italy/sicily/scicli.md) - [Syracuse](https://neywo.com/destinations/italy/sicily/syracuse.md) ## Elsewhere in Italy - [Taormina](https://neywo.com/destinations/italy/sicily/taormina.md) — Sicily - [Terrasini](https://neywo.com/destinations/italy/sicily/terrasini.md) — Sicily - [Trapani](https://neywo.com/destinations/italy/sicily/trapani.md) — Sicily - [Pinzolo](https://neywo.com/destinations/italy/trentino-south-tyrol/pinzolo.md) — Trentino-South Tyrol - [Riva del Garda](https://neywo.com/destinations/italy/trentino-south-tyrol/riva-del-garda.md) — Trentino-South Tyrol - [Trento](https://neywo.com/destinations/italy/trentino-south-tyrol/trento.md) — Trentino-South Tyrol - [Arezzo](https://neywo.com/destinations/italy/tuscany/arezzo.md) — Tuscany - [Florence](https://neywo.com/destinations/italy/tuscany/florence.md) — Tuscany - [Grosseto](https://neywo.com/destinations/italy/tuscany/grosseto.md) — Tuscany - [Livorno](https://neywo.com/destinations/italy/tuscany/livorno.md) — Tuscany - [Lucca](https://neywo.com/destinations/italy/tuscany/lucca.md) — Tuscany - [Montecatini Terme](https://neywo.com/destinations/italy/tuscany/montecatini-terme.md) — Tuscany --- HTML: https://neywo.com/destinations/italy/sicily/catania App: https://app.neywo.com Español: https://neywo.com/es/destinations/italy/sicily/catania.md Français: https://neywo.com/fr/destinations/italy/sicily/catania.md