Catania On a Budget
Catania and Mt. Etna
The city dates back about 2700 years and has been ruled by a variety of cultures including the Greeks, Romans, Arabs, Normans, and Spanish. The city's large port made it a rich commercial center and beginning in the 1970's it began to thrive and grow economically as well. Despite it's significant growth, the old 17th century downtown area remains at the center of daily life.
The city's location at the foot of the biggest active volcano in Europe leaves it vulnerable to natural disaster. It has been destroyed many times in the past, and much of it's architecture has been rebuilt in a diversity of styles over the years. There are also many abandoned houses, particularly near the mountains.
Sights
There are many interesting sights in Catania. The baroque Piazza del Duomo is beautiful and where you will find the Elephant Fountain, which is the symbol of the city. Next to the piazza is the Norman Cathedral which is worth a visit. From there you can explore many food and fish markets that are lively and fun to get lost in. They also offer a glimpse into local culture. Via Etnea is the city's main shopping street, but it is also lined with many beautiful churches and impressive architecture. Piazza Stesicoro has some ruins for a Roman Amphitheater and also has the entry point to the main market. Teatro Massimo is a 19th century opera house that is a popular meeting point for young, local residents. Other sights include Castello Ursino, the Gree/Roman Theatre, Palazzo Bisari, the Villa Bellini, the Benedictine Monastery and the unfinished church of San Nicolo.Neighborhoods
The city is divided into ten administrative areas. The ten areas are Centro, Ognina-Picanello, Borgo-Sanzio, Barriera-Canalicchio, San Giovanni Galermo, Trappeto-Cibali, Monte Po-Nesima, San Leone-Rapisardi, San Giorgio-Librino, and San Giuseppe La Rena-Zia Lisa.Activities
There are many different activities and festivals around town. St. Agata Festival is a three day long religious event that is dedicated to the Patron Saint of Catania. It is held the first week of February and can draw large crowds to the city in excess of 100,000 people. There are many firework displays, parades and street vendors set up. If you hope to be in town during this event then you need to book well in advance.Another popular activity is to take a tour of Mount Etna. There are plenty of tour companies around town and they all generally have comparable rates. You can also make arrangements through most hotels and hostels.
Food and Dining
You can enjoy some local food specialties at many of the great restaurants around town. Arancino is a rice croquette stuffed with a meat and tomato sauce filling. There are also some great fish dishes as well as the popular dish, pasta alla norma, which is made with macaroni and topped with tomato sauce and fried eggplant as well as basil and ricotta. Another unique option is horse meat, which the area is famous for. It's possible to find it in areas around the "Benedictine Monastery".Popular breakfast dishes include "Granita" which is an almond or black mulberry sorbet that is served with a sweet round loaf called brioscia. It's particularly common during the warm summer months.
Cold paninis are common around town. You can choose whatever fillings you want. Popular options are proscuitto cotto/crudo and cheese. These are cheap sandwiches that make a good, quick meal or snack. Most shops close between the hours of 1 pm and 4 pm as well as Sunday afternoons. Other fast food options include tavola calda (or "hot bite") that is made with cheese and meat and then fried or baked.
Transportation
You can arrive in Catania by bus, train, ferry or plane. The airport has both scheduled and chartered flights that travel throughout Italy and Europe. It is a half hour from the airport into the city by bus. Intercity buses connect Catania with Taormina, Messina, Enna, Caltanissetta, Ragusa and Syracuse. There are trains that run along the east coast to Taormina and Messina. Some trains continue on to Naples and Rome. It's also possible to catch buses to Enna, Palermo and Syracuse. You can also catch a ferry to mainland Italy.If you're exploring the downtown area, it's easiest to just walk. While there is a metro line, you'll often find yourself frustrated with the long queues. Also watch out for pickpockets if you're on or around the public transit system, as they can be anywhere. If you want to head up Mount Etna, there's a private train line called Circumetnea that you can pick up at the Borgo metro station. From Rifugio Sapienza you can reach the top of the mountain and return to Catania all in one day.
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Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.