Catania

Catania

In Malta, Catania is synonymous with shopping. This is hardly surprising given that the city is the second largest in Sicily and is the undisputed commercial centre of the whole of eastern Sicily. Suffice it to say that since World War II the economy of Catania has developed at such a rapid pace that it has earned for itself the epitaph Milano del Sud.

Catania, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has quite recently been given a good clean-up and face lift. So nice to now see those magnificent buildings, previously black from soot, now a brilliant white.

Must see:


Via Etnea

Via Etnea is actually a very long street, all the way to the foot of Mount Etna, but we are only interested in the stretch between Piazza Duomo and Villa Bellini. This is the city’s main shopping zone. The open market is just off Via Etnea, it’s worthwhile a short noisy experience.

Piazza Duomo

Piazza Duomo leads to Via Etnea at one end and the Port of Catania at the other. The most sensible way to enjoy the piazza, a pedestrian zone, is to sit at one of the very fine cafes and admire the whole setting. The heavy baroque Duomo, the Cattedrale di Sant’Agata, originally built by Roger the Norman, was rebuilt after the 1693 earthquake. This is at one end of the Piazza with the University of Catania at the other. Bang in the middle is the Fontana dell’Elefante, the black lava elephant dating from Roman times; the Elephant is the symbol of the city.

Villa Bellini

Villa Bellini or Giardino Bellini in Via Etnea. A flight of steps takes you into this well planned ornamental garden, a haven of peace in this otherwise very busy city. The gardens are named after the Catania born composer Vincenzo Bellini. A monument in Via Etnea and the Teatro Massimo, also on Via Etnea, are also dedicated to the master.

Pescheria

The Pescheria, fish market, is just off the Piazza Duomo. You cannot have seen so many different fish in one place at any one time. You start to wonder how an innocent young man with buckets of shellfish can possibly make so much noise. Now it’s perfectly obvious you are not there to buy fish, let alone cook it, but it doesn’t prevent sellers from opening a fresh mussel, putting it under your nose and yelling 'COZZE' in your ear. What a place, what fun, what an experience.