Tours & Activities 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
On this sailing excursion, we'll sail between the cliffs of Aci Trezza and the Cyclops Islands, following in the footsteps of the hero Ulysses!
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!
On this sailboat ride around Catania, you'll marvel at the hues of the sky and the Ionian Sea at sunset, a moment of total relaxation and disconnection!
Walking through the streets of Catania. For a "first contact" with the city. Between anecdotes, curiosities and "pills" of history.
The walk will give you the opportunity to get to know some of the most significant places in the historic center of Catania , in a total immersion in the most "authentic" part of the city. I will suggest all the historical and cultural places of the city (and its province), and also the most fascinating and characteristic places to go, to taste some of the most typical culinary specialties, such as horse meat meatball or " caponata " Made of veggies.
TOUR DETAILS – THINGS TO KNOW
A connoisseur of local reality will accompany you with information in Italian and Spanish.
Area : historic center of Catania . Along the oldest streets, with numerous opportunities to " photostop" some of the most important and suggestive attractions of the city ( Piazza Duomo, Pescheria, Castello Ursino, Via Crociferi, Piazza Dante, Monastery of the Benedictines ).
The location indicated on the Google map refers to the morning meeting place. The meeting place for the afternoon, as indicated in the general information, is in: Piazza Dante (entrance of the San Nicola church)
IMPORTANT! The walk will take place entirely within a part of the historic center of the city, but the classic tourist visit is not planned, with a detailed explanation of the history and architectural characteristics of its monuments (it is not even part of the purpose of the tour nor in my skills as a tourist companion). There will be no guided tour of the cathedral or other churches, theaters, museums or archaeological areas.
The tour simply aims to present in general terms a part of the historic center of Catania. Only the most significant historical-cultural aspects of the city will be provided (with the appropriate indications to orient yourself within it) and the monuments located along the route.
Recommended tour, above all, to have a first contact with Catania. For those who want a more detailed description of the monuments and history of the city, a visit with local official tour guides is recommended.