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Walk Through Villa Bellini Park
Villa Bellini park is a scenic 17-acre park that sits at the end of Via Etnea, Catania’s main street. The park, Giardino Bellini in Italian, provides a green oasis from the bustle of Catania’s city streets. It’s the oldest urban park in the city, covering a sprawling 71 square meters.
The park path winds up and down hills, through trees and scenic overlooks. The best part — it’s free! There’s no admission fee to this park, making it a great activity for the views, atmosphere and for your wallet.
Take a tour to learn of all the parks nooks and crannies, or simply meander after enjoying a glass of wine at Retro, located a 5 minute walk from Villa Bellini park.
Shop Via Etnea
Via Etnea is the main thoroughfare through Catania. It leads from Villa Bellini all the way down to Piazza del Duomo, the city’s historic square. Along the wide, pedestrian-friendly streets are shops of all kinds. Fragrance, clothing, even a huge department store.
Depending on how enthusiastic of a shopper you are, you could spend an entire day exploring each and every store offering along Via Etnea. It’s a great place to stop and buy some fun items to remember your trip by. I picked up this dress along Via Etnea!
If you are a second-hand or vintage enthusiast, pop over to Novecento to check out their impressive collection of vintage home decor!
I highly recommend shopping your heart out here on Via Etnea. While shopping here is great, I don’t recommend eating at Via Etnea, unless it’s a quick stop for espresso and gelato.
For your meal, venture off the main streets. More on that here.
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Take in Scenic views at the top of Cathedral of Saint Agatha
Originally built between 1078 and 1093, the Cattedrale Metropolitana di Sant’Agata has been reconstructed many times throughout history. Including in 1169, when it was all but entirely decimated by an earthquake, followed shortly thereafter by a fire.
While not the biggest cathedral in Italy, or the most impressive the Cathedral of Saint Agatha is worth the visit. Built in a Baroque style, the Cathedral boasts the beauty and impressive grandeur common to churches throughout Italy.
However, the best part of the Cathedral is the fact that you can walk on the roof! Simply purchase your ticket (a donation to the church that goes to maintaining the historic site) and begin your ascent up countless stairs. You’ll wind through petite stairwells, windowless corridors in a tower that seems like it will never end.
Once you reach the top, you’ll be rewarded with breathtaking views of the coastline and the whole city of Catania. Not to mention the towering vision of Mt Etna looming over the city.
Visit the Piazza del Duomo
Catania’s Piazza del Duomo is the historic city center. It’s located right outside the Cathedral of St Agatha, and is easily recognizable by the elephant obelisk that sits at the square’s center.
If you’re planning a visit to the Cathedral, you’ll visit the Piazza by default. I recommend stopping by Don Pepinu’s for a gelato to enjoy in the Piazza. At night the Piazza really comes to life, with tourists and locals alike joining in the square to enjoy the warm Sicilian nights. Street performers often congregate here.
Restaurants and wine bars fill the smaller streets that connect to the Piazza. For a great meal, wander down a few side streets until you come upon a restaurant with an Italian menu filled with locals.
Peruse the local Fish Market
Sicily is well-known for it’s seafood, and one of the best places to see it is the Catania fish market.
Located right off the Piazza del Duomo, the Catania fish market is a lively experience, even if you aren’t planning on taking home any fresh fish. Vendors shout to entice buyers, the best (and loudest) being the most successful at the market.
Pass under the bridge and you’ll find an array of produce vendors, with some of the freshest and tastiest fruits and vegetables you’ll have.
If wandering into an open air market full of fresh fish and boisterous vendors is intimidating, try a guided tour. This Catania fish market tour will navigate you through the market and recommend street foods to nibble on as you learn of the significance and history of the fish market.
Catania Fish market tour highlights:
- 10 guests maximum
- 11:00 am (3 hours)
- Meet vendors, visit local spots and learn more about Catania’s cuisine
Taste wines on Mount Etna
Mount Etna, the largest active volcano in Europe, is famous for it’s wines. How? The volcanic ash invigorates soil with vital nutrients, creating uniquely flavored grapes that local winemakers use to produce one-of-a-kind wines.
It’s recommended that when visiting Mount Etna, whether it’s to taste wine or hike it’s volcanic peak, you visit with a guide. Being an active volcano, Mount Etna is no joke!
A guided wine tour provides easy transportation from local Catania accommodations and takes you up the winding path to the wineries at the base of Mount Etna.
See local lava-stone houses, incredible views from the hills, and local orange and almond groves. Spend the day tasting Etna wines and classic dishes. Wine is included in the price of the tour and transportation is provided.
Mount Etna Wine Tour Highlights:
- 8 guests maximum
- 10:00 am (6 hours)
- Transportation and wine included
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Learn to make classic Sicilian recipes with a cooking class
Spend the evening with a Sicilian local in her home in the Catania city center. Create three traditional recipes with seasonal ingredients, then enjoy your hard work over dinner.
Taking a cooking class is an incredibly fun (and delicious) way to learn new techniques, discover more about Sicilian culture and make some new friends! With expert guidance, you’ll be able to create tasty dishes and priceless memories, even if you aren’t a professional chef.
Catania Cooking Class Highlights:
- 6 guests maximum
- 5:30 pm (3.5 hours)
- Create and enjoy 3 traditional dishes with local ingredients
If you aren’t too keen on cooking your dinner, try this Catania street food walking tour one afternoon. You’ll learn all about the city history while sampling some of Catania’s favorite street foods. Accompanied by a knowledgeable local, you’ll taste Sicilian classics while enjoying the sights of Catania.
Pro tip: Do your tour towards the beginning of your stay. This will help you get a better lay of the land and see where you’d like to spend more of your time. Bonus: Ask your local guide for some restaurant recommendations!
Catania Street Food Walking Tour Highlights:
- 12 guests maximum
- 11:30 am (2.5 hours)
- Sample an array of common street foods
Take a train ride along the volcanic coast
For the more adventurous among us, for whom guided tours may not be as favorable – try this. Board a local train two or three stops up the coastline. The closer you get Mount Etna, you’ll see the coastline transform into rocky, black beaches full of volcanic stone.
Getting out of the city center allows you to experience local life more authentically. And the best part? You’ll get to discover even more incredible local eateries.
The train tickets in Sicily are priced based on how far your destination is, so with only going a few stops, your tickets will be 3-4 euros a piece. Board the train and enjoy the scenic ride up the coast.
Then, disembark and explore! Wander down to Cutilisci and dine right by the sea. Feast on traditional dishes with a modern twist, with heavy emphasis on incredible, local seafood. In my trip to Catania, this restaurant was by far my favorite, for the atmosphere and the delicious food!
Day Trip to Taormina
You may know Taormina from The White Lotus fame. Taormina is a popular seaside getaway, full of luxury resorts and incredible food. Easily access Taormina by train for a scenic day trip.
Enjoy an evening Food and Wine Walking Tour or learn to make authentic Sicilian arancini with a professional chef.
Sail in Taormina bay, or simply lounge by the beach. Activities in Taormina are plentiful, and reflect the slow-paced Sicilian lifestyle well.
Take in the incredible views, enjoy the local cuisine and grab photo ops at your favorite on-screen spots in the area.
🛬 Landing Gear: Final Thoughts
From exploring the city streets to wandering along the volcanic beaches, Catania has so much to offer. Marvel at Mount Etna while wine tasting and climb to the top of an ancient cathedral for break-taking views.
Taste for Travel 
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