Contenu masquer
1 Porta Garibaldi in Catania
2 Fountain of the Rape of Proserpina in Catania
3 The pescheria, Catania’s fish market
4 Mercato Fera ‘o luni in Catania
5 Kiosks of Catania
6 Villa Bellini and botanical garden in Catania
7 “Borgo” station in Catania
8 Port of Catania and Ognina
9 Porta della Bellezza in Catania
10 Commonwealth Cemetery
11 Articles about Catania

Porta Garibaldi in Catania

porta-garibaldi-cataniaIn the south-west of Catania’s centre, more than a kilometre from Piazza Duomo, the Porta Garibaldi was built in 1768 by the architect Stefano Ittar at the end of Via Garibaldi, as a wedding gift from the “people of Catania” to the union between Caroline of Austria and King Ferdinand IV.
→ External sites: en.wikipedia.org

Fountain of the Rape of Proserpina in Catania

Near Catania railway station, piazza Giovanni XXIII, and created by the sculptor Giulio Moschetti at the beginning of the 20th century, the fountain represents the goddess Proserpina kidnapped by Pluto on a chariot drawn by sirens and horses.

→ External sites: it.wikipedia.org

The pescheria, Catania’s fish market

The pescheria is an ancient fish market, where meat, fruit and vegetables are also sold, along with takeaway food and fast food. It is held near Piazza Duomo.

Mercato Fera ‘o luni in Catania

Piazza Carlo Alberto, it is the other oldest traditional market in Catania along with the Pescheria, held here since the end of the 19th century, in front of the sanctuary of the Madonna del Carmelo.
It is held every day except Sunday, with a wide range of products: from gastronomy and fruit and vegetables to clothing, household items and toys. In addition to Italian traders, many are of African and Chinese origin.

External sites: it.wikipedia.org

Kiosks of Catania

Kiosk, centre of Catania

Chiosco of the pescheria

Catania’s small kiosks are emblematic of the city, having appeared at the end of the 19th century and offering refreshments, and have become traditional neighbourhood meeting points. They can be found in the main squares. They offer various thirst-quenching drinks, based on citrus fruits, sparkling water coming down from the slopes of Etna, etc

Villa Bellini and botanical garden in Catania

The Villa Bellini is the largest and most beautiful public park in Catania. Completed in 1883, it is north of the city centre, decorated with numerous statues by artists from the city, kiosks, a botanical clock, etc
→ See the description of the Villa Bellini and the botanical garden

“Borgo” station in Catania

The train station of Catania Borgo is the historic starting point of the Ferrovia Circumetnea line, located via Caronda.
In the station garden, you can see the steam locomotive no. 14, named “Meuse”, an old machine built in Belgium at the beginning of the 20th century, restored and displayed among historic railway elements (signalling, point levers, water column).
More modern railcars of the Circumetnea line still run from Borgo, allowing old-world charm and a useful service to be combined. The Ferrovia Circumetnea is a narrow-gauge railway line inaugurated in 1895, which circles the volcano Etna, crossing villages, lava flows and mountainous landscapes at the moderate speed of 35 km/h.

  • Catania Borgo: Circumetnea railway station
    Catania Borgo
  • Catania Borgo: Circumetnea railway station
    Catania Borgo
  • The Meuse locomotive, Catania Borgo: Circumetnea railway station
    La Meuse, Catania Borgo

Port of Catania and Ognina

Beyond the port of Catania, quite imposing, lively and full of life with the spectacular view of Etna, you can discover the picturesque little port of Ognina three kilometres north of the Central Station. The port is also an opportunity to enjoy excellent fresh fish dishes in the surrounding restaurants.
Ognina is also known as the Port of Ulysses, nestled at the foot of Catania’s suggestive rocky coast, shaped by a lava flow from 1381. It is a favourite destination for the people of Catania thanks to its atmosphere, its attractions and its panorama over the Ionian Sea.
Its history was important, founded in the 8th century BC by the Chalcidians, where the best boats were then built. In Roman times, the port of Ognina could accommodate up to 300 ships, being the main port of Katane. It is from here that Ulysses is said to have landed with his companions and escaped the wrath of the Cyclops Polyphemus who, having been blinded, hurled enormous rocks at him: the current faraglioni of Aci Trezza, near the island of Lachea.

Porta della Bellezza in Catania

In the Librino district, on the outskirts of Catania, a 3-kilometre-long concrete wall was built in the 1970s, which became an artistic and social project by Antonio Presti, a Sicilian patron of the arts.
The work extends over a 500-metre portion, using terracotta, composed of 13 monumental works and 900 smaller ones, through collaboration between artists, students of the Academy of Fine Arts and schoolchildren.
The main theme is the “mother goddess”, representing abstract subjects or women.

Commonwealth Cemetery

About 7 kilometres south-west of the city is the impressive war cemetery maintained by the Commonwealth in honour of the war dead.

Articles about Catania