Catania is one of the most beautiful cities in Italy and certainly one of the most visited ever. On the web you can find guides of any type to visit the most characteristic places and the most famous restaurants. However, there are things that are not explained in the illustrated guides and that are preferred by locals for this reason.
Catania has been destroyed and rebuilt nine times.
It is a city that resumed its activities after a devastating earthquake in 1693. This generated the most typical thing about the city: the black lava stones.
There are activities and places to see that can not miss the visit, and not only: Catania is also customs, habits and things to do at night. You want to know what you can’t possibly miss? Here is a list of activities that you won’t find on any tourist guide, but that have been recommended directly by the locals!
Via Santa Filomena
A narrow street full of quaint food and where street food reigns supreme. All this, however, creates a chic atmosphere. We are talking about Via Santa Filomena which is located right in the center of Catania and is the most famous meeting place for the inhabitants of Catania. Here there is a very wild nightlife, with clubs open until late at night and above all the opportunity to dine and make aperitifs.
The area is in the center of Catania but it is difficult to identify, hidden by all the traps for tourists and full of really typical restaurants.
Here you must absolutely order the anchovy meatballs at the "Polpetteria", and the fish couscous that has now entered the culture of the city.
Discover the fish market
The most famous fish market in Catania is "La Pescheria". It is an endless expanse of cement where many fishermen sell their products at km 0. The market is the beating heart of the city, with all its flavors and smells. Here it is impossible to find someone who speaks English, because the only true language is that of gestures and screams: it is called "vuciata" and it is the typical noise that fishermen make to approach people and to convince them to buy. One very curious and characteristic thing is undoubtedly the underground tunnel that connects the two squares in the city center (Piazza Pardo and Piazza Alonzo di Benedetto).
In this market you can find only fresh products of the day, and it is the best way to make unique and unrepeatable tastings.
Discover the real street food
Like any self-respecting city in the South, even in Catania the most important thing to do before leaving is to try street food. This is mostly takeout food, but it hides the true essence of the city.
Besides the classic arancini it is absolutely obligatory to try the cartocciate (soft panzerotti stuffed with mozzarella, aubergines and much more) and cipolline (crispy rustic puff pastry filled with fried onions, cheese and ham).
The "carnezzerie" are local shops that sell typical meat and are sacred places to try dishes of any type. In Catania, however, are also very popular trattorias, where carnivores have the true philosophy of "Arrusti and Mangia" (roast and eat), so these are places where you can cook your own meat on the spot.
Here you can also try donkey, pork and horse meat. The latter is really very famous.
Catania, however, is also the place of the most beautiful discoveries and the most modern foods, such as the arancini of seafood and sandwiches with raw tuna.
The Etna Volcano
Etna is the volcano par excellence, one of the symbols of Sicily.
The mountain of fire is also home to a beautiful natural park that lovers of trekking and hiking can not miss: it is a very popular destination characterized by contrasting landscapes (vegetation and stones). Etna can also be explored on foot, and every trip has an incredible charm.
The classic climb extends for 2500 meters, but you can also do it by jeep and is 2900 meters. Who wants to get to the crater will face an uphill path of 3250 meters with a crater of 4 km.
Sometimes it can also happen to come across an eruption, in that case obviously the park is totally closed but you can observe everything from afar and it is a sight that can hardly be forgotten.
The opera in Teatro Bellini
It is certainly not the oldest in Europe like the Teatro San Carlo in Naples, but it has a charm that can hardly be ignored. Let’s talk about the Teatro Bellini full of stories to tell and above all of an incredible beauty that can only be appreciated even by those not fond of theater.
The name obviously comes from the composer from Catania Vincenzo Bellini, who inaugurated the same theater with the Norma in 1890.
The theater not only hosts some of the most important and famous operas from around the world, but can also be visited from Tuesday to Saturday: something we recommend you do before leaving Sicily.
Theatrical performances, however, are mostly staged in the evening, but there are some special openings especially in Summer.
