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What to do today in Catania

What to do in Catania today depends on the time more than elsewhere. Morning is the time for the Pescheria and the Fera 'o Luni, while the stalls are full, and the centre can be walked in a few hours. In the afternoon Via Etnea climbs to Villa Bellini, and in the evening the centre fills up around Piazza Università and the Teatro Massimo.

Below are the classics not to miss and, further down, the places open right now, sorted by how far they are from you. If you are on a schedule, tell me when you leave: I will plan a walk that respects opening hours and gets you back in time.

The classics to see today

  1. Piazza Duomo e Fontana dell'Elefante

    The starting point of every walk, with u Liotru in the middle and the Cathedral of St Agatha opposite. From here you are two minutes from the Pescheria and the start of Via Etnea.

  2. La Pescheria

    If it is morning and not Sunday, start here: the fish market is the liveliest thing in the city. At lunch the trattorias around it cook what you have just seen on the stalls.

  3. Via dei Crociferi

    A few minutes from the Duomo, the Baroque UNESCO street, with the Chiesa di San Giuliano and its terrace. Passing under the arch of San Benedetto, the city makes sense.

  4. Monastero dei Benedettini

    If you have an hour and a half for one visit today, this is it: cloisters, kitchens and Roman remains with a guide. Check that day's times before you walk up.

  5. Teatro Romano e Odeon

    The lava-stone theatre hidden among the houses, halfway between the Benedettini and Piazza Duomo. The visit is short, and it feels like a chance discovery.

  6. Villa Bellini

    At the end of Via Etnea, the garden to pause in during the afternoon, with Etna in view on clear days. Opposite, Savia and Spinella for a granita.

Tell me when you leave: I will line up the stops that are open, with a time for each one and enough time to get back.

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Open now in Catania

Frequently asked questions

What is open in Catania right now?

The list below shows the places open at this moment according to our hours. Where hours are not verified we say so: for museums and churches, check their own site before you go.

I only have a few hours: what should I see?

With two hours: Piazza Duomo, the Cathedral, the Pescheria if it is morning, and Via dei Crociferi, all on foot. With four, add the Roman Theatre and the Monastero dei Benedettini. The planner fits the walk to your times.

Can you go up Etna in a day?

Yes, but you need an organised excursion or a car, and the whole day: NowVisit plans walks in the city, not excursions. Conditions on the volcano change, so check first.

What is there to do tonight?

An aperitivo in Piazza Università or around the Teatro Massimo, a glass of Etna wine on Via Crociferi, or a performance at the Teatro Massimo Bellini.

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