Tours & Activities in Catania
On this free tour of Catania, we'll discover the more alternative side of this Sicilian city, going far beyond just its history and architecture.
With us Guiding Sicily guides you will have a unique experience because we are able to combine professional knowledge of the city with everyday life as we are all from Catania. Ours will be a visit that will tell you the millenary history of the city , its link with Etna , its most illustrious characters, and its famous gastronomy.
The tour starts from Piazza Duomo with the Elephant Fountain, the Cathedral (inside) and the Town Hall . Crossing the historic fish market you will reach the Ursino Castle . Then Piazza Mazzini , Piazza San Francesco and via dei Crociferi.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR THE TRAVELER:
The Guiding Sicily Tourist Guides, covered by Civil Liability insurance to protect the customer, do not limit themselves to describing Catania in its peculiarities, but build an original path , offering the visitor many possible ways of use. The planning of the itinerary and the management of the guide service in fact require skills that only an authorized professional can offer. For this reason, at the end of the guided tour, we suggest the visitor to leave a contribution of at least 10 euros per person (children under 10 free).
We are local guides with a great passion for Catania, our tour tells a story of a very complex city and its relationship with the volcano and its patron Saint.
Our main aim is to give everyone the opportunity to know and love Catania for what it is, with its contrasts. On this tour we see places such as: - Piazza università (meeting point) - Piazza Duomo - Cathedral - City Hall - Fish Market - Piazza Mazzini - Crociferi Street -Etnea Street - end point is Piazza Stesicoro, by the amphitheater.
Here we can receive only 5 reservations, so when we confirm the tour, please reply and back-up your participation. We are flexible if somebody is added to the group. If there the date is complete contact us or visit our freetourcatania page to book. Thank you very much and we are looking forward to welcoming you in Catania!
This city of lava mesmerized me. Catania is full of myths and legends and all so current! This is where the story happened! None of the historical eras has been denied, they are all still there... and visibly there. The scent of good food, good wine, special desserts! But let's not get distracted: the historic center of Catania with the skyline, Piazza Duomo, Castel Ursino, the Greco-Roman ruins, the Baroque reconstruction and much more.
Catania is a unique and mysterious city famous for its Baroque architecture, Mount Etna, and Greek origins, but it also has a hidden esoteric side. Traces of the Greek Goddess Athena and the ancient Egyptian Isis are evident throughout the city. Seafood cuisine, ricotta cheese cannolo, wines, and honey along with its spectacular beaches makes it a must-see destination.
I invite you to come and discover this magnificent city and uncover its hidden gems.
Itinerary:
- The Cathedral of Saint Agatha
- The Town Hall
- The fish market
- The "Ursino" Castle
- Piazza Dante
- Via Crociferi
- Via Etnea
- The Roman amphitheatre
During my guided tour we will discover together the characteristics of the archaeological and baroque Catania, visiting the places where it will be possible to perceive the historical continuity of this city destroyed several times by the volcano Etna: we will see closely the signs of the lava flow that surrounded it in the 17th century.
Everything will be accompanied by curiosities and traditions!
The tour will start from Piazza Duomo, the house of u'Liotru . Later, we will enter into a lava cave resulting from the 1669 eruption and we will see the Amenano River that runs under the city (this part of the visit requires a symbolic entrance fee of €1 per person). Then, we will continue to the Ursino Castle of Federico II from Swabia.
During the second part of the visit, I will take you to the UNESCO "pearls" of Sicilian late baroque: the sumptuous Benedictine Monastery and the elegant Via Crociferi .
Finally, we will travel back in time 2000 years ago, taking a look at the theater and the odeon from Roman times, and we will finish our tour in Stericoro square , where it will be possible to see the Roman amphitheater and discover some anecdotes from the life of the famous Catanese composer Vincenzo Bellini .
Looking forward to exploring this magnificent city together!