Few cities pack as much character into their streets as Catania. Founded by the Greeks, rebuilt in dark lava stone after the 1693 earthquake, and forever living under the watchful silhouette of Mount Etna, the city feels both ancient and alive. Baroque facades in black-and-cream, cathedral bells, and the chorus of its famed fish market set the rhythm.

Catania rewards curiosity: slip into lava-carved wine bars, graze on arancini and “scacciate,” and follow lava-stone boulevards to Roman theaters and cloisters. Day trips stitch the coast together—Taormina’s Greek Theatre, Ortigia’s honey-stone lanes, and Agrigento’s temples glowing at golden hour. Volcano treks and sunset craters add a touch of epic to your week.

Practical notes: Catania-Fontanarossa (CTA) is the main airport; the AMT Alibus reaches the center in ~20 minutes. Dress modestly for churches, carry small change for markets, and expect later dinners (many kitchens open 7:30–8:00pm). Seasonal winds off Etna can cool evenings even in summer—pack a light layer.

Catania

Catania is Sicily’s lava-hued metropolis: grand squares, café-studded boulevards, and Sicilian Baroque masterpieces in easy strolling distance. Piazza del Duomo anchors the old town with the Cathedral of Sant’Agata and the whimsical lava-elephant fountain, “Liotru,” the city’s emblem.

• Top sights: Piazza del Duomo, Via Etnea, Monastero dei Benedettini (a UNESCO site), Teatro Romano and Odeon, Via dei Crociferi, Castello Ursino, La Pescheria fish market, Giardino Bellini.
• Food & drink: Street food around the fish market (fried seafood cones, cartocciata), classic pastries (cannoli, cassata), Etna DOC wines (Nerello Mascalese, Carricante).
• Fun facts: Much of the historic center is built from Etna’s lava; look for the striking black-and-white stonework. The city celebrates Sant’Agata each February with one of the world’s largest religious festivals.

Where to stay:

• Browse apartments and villas on VRBO Catania or hotels on Hotels.com Catania.
• Beach-adjacent and pool: Romano Palace Luxury Hotel (La Playa strip; resort feel, gardens, pool).
• Great value by the station/center: Hotel Villa Romeo (classic rooms, handy for day-trip trains).
• Seafront access near the dunes: NH Catania Parco Degli Aragonesi.
• Central business-district base: NH Catania Centro (walkable to Via Etnea).
• Pre-flight convenience: Catania International Airport Hotel.

Getting in and around:

• Flights: Compare routes to Catania (CTA) on Omio Flights. Rome–Catania ~1h15; Milan–Catania ~1h45; many European hubs are 2–3 hours nonstop.
• Trains & buses: For intercity trains/buses in Italy (e.g., Taormina, Syracuse), search Omio Trains and Omio Buses. Catania–Taormina is ~50–70 minutes by regionale (~€6–€10).
• Ferries: Mainland–Sicily combinations via Messina available on Omio Ferries.

Day 1: Arrival, Piazza del Duomo, and Lava-Stone Strolls

Afternoon: Land at Catania (CTA). Ride the AMT Alibus to the center (~20 minutes) or taxi (~15 minutes). Check in, then stretch your legs along Via Etnea toward Piazza del Duomo. Say hello to “Liotru,” the lava-elephant fountain, and pop into the Cathedral of Sant’Agata to see the saint’s silver reliquary chapel.

Evening: Ease into Sicilian flavors with a progressive dinner. Start with arancini and a slice of “scacciata” at Savia (since 1897) or across the street at Spinella. For a sit-down seafood feast, try Scirocco Sicilian Fish Lab (fried seafood cones and grilled catch by the market) or book a table at Me Cumpari Turiddu (heritage recipes, Slow Food ethos). Nightcap with Etna views at Etnea Roof Bar atop a central hotel, or sip Sicilian natural wines at Razmataz Wine Bar.

Day 2: Markets, Street Food, and Baroque Lanes

Morning: Meet Catania’s soul at La Pescheria, the roaring fish market behind the Duomo. Join the Catania Street Food Walking Tour and Market Adventure to sample crispy panelle, swordfish specialties, and almond granita while learning market lore.

Afternoon: Explore Via dei Crociferi, a baroque showcase of churches and cloisters. Continue to the Monastero dei Benedettini (great guided tours reveal hidden courtyards and lava-layer archaeology). Coffee and cannolo break at Prestipino near the Duomo or pistachio-studded gelato at Chiosco kiosks along Via Etnea.

Evening: If there’s a performance, book Teatro Massimo Bellini for opera or symphonic music—the acoustics are superb. For dinner, try U Fucularu (hearty pastas like maccheroni alla norma with Ricotta Salata) or Al Vicolo Pizza & Vino for blistered pies and Sicilian craft beers. Cocktails at Bohème Mixology Bar or a laid-back pint at historic Nievski.

Day 3: Mount Etna Sunset Adventure

Morning: Slow breakfast: almond granita with brioche at Prestipino or Savia—it’s a local morning ritual. Wander the Roman Amphitheatre on Piazza Stesicoro, then browse boutiques on Via Etnea and Corso Italia.

Afternoon & Evening: Head up the mountain for glowing craters and lunar scenery. The Mt. Etna Sunset Experience - Breathtaking Adventure from Catania typically includes hotel pickup, a lava cave stop, short crater hikes around 2,000 m, and panoramic views of the Valle del Bove as the sky turns gold to ember. Pack a windbreaker and closed shoes; temperatures drop quickly at altitude.

Day 4: Taormina and the Ionian Coast (Self-Guided Day Trip)

Morning: Take a morning regionale train Catania–Taormina-Giardini (~50–70 minutes, ~€6–€10 on Omio Trains). Bus or taxi climbs to Taormina’s hilltop. Visit the Greek Theatre with its stage framed by Etna and the sea—among the Mediterranean’s most iconic vistas.

Afternoon: Stroll Corso Umberto’s boutiques and medieval gates, then descend by cable car to Isola Bella for a pebbly beach dip. Lunch ideas: Trattoria da Nino (seafood and sweeping views), Osteria Nero D’Avola (Sicilian classics), or a granita stop at Bam Bar (try coffee-and-almond).

Evening: Return to Catania by train. Dinner back in town at Me Cumpari Turiddu (daily-changing market menu) or Razmataz for wine flights with small plates. Night stroll through Piazza Università’s storybook lampposts.

Day 5: Syracuse, Ortigia, and Noto (Guided Excursion)

Full day: Dive into Magna Graecia and golden Baroque towns on a guided small-group tour: Syracuse, Ortigia and Noto walking tour from Catania. You’ll see the Neapolis Archaeological Park (Greek Theater, Ear of Dionysius), wander Ortigia’s narrow lanes and seaside piazzas, then continue to Noto’s honey-colored cathedral and balconies festooned with masks.

Food notes: In Ortigia, sandwich maestros at Caseificio Borderi pile mortadella, ricotta, and pistachio pesto onto warm bread; or try Fratelli Burgio for antipasti boards. Back in Catania, wind down with pizza and Etna rosé at Al Vicolo or seafood pasta at U Fucularu.

Day 6: Agrigento Temples & Roman Mosaics (Guided Excursion)

Full day: For a grand sweep of antiquity, book the Agrigento and Piazza Armerina: Valley of the Temples and Villa Romana del Casale day trip. Walk among Doric giants—the Temples of Concordia, Juno, and Hercules—then continue to Piazza Armerina for the UNESCO-listed Roman mosaics (look for the famed “bikini girls”).

Lunch ideas near Agrigento include Trattoria dei Templi (simple, satisfying Sicilian plates). Back in Catania, celebrate with a glass of Nerello Mascalese and swordfish involtini at Me Cumpari Turiddu or trattoria-style dishes at Razmataz’s kitchen.

Day 7: Beach Morning, Last Bites, and Departure

Morning: Unwind by the water at San Giovanni Li Cuti, a small black-lava cove with fishermen’s boats, or head to La Playa for long sandy beaches and lidos. Brunch on pistachio croissants and cappuccino at Spinella or Prestipino.

Afternoon: Last-minute shopping along Via Etnea and in the artisan lanes near Piazza Università. Pick up candied citrus peels, Bronte pistachios, or a bottle of Etna Bianco (Carricante) to take home. Transfer to CTA for your flight; compare options on Omio Flights and, if continuing around Sicily, trains on Omio Trains.

Evening (if time allows): A farewell aperitivo—try a bitter-orange spritz and olives at a chiosco kiosk—then one last bite of cannolo before wheels up.

Alternate/extra ideas if you like to tweak: Swap Day 4 for Aci Castello and Aci Trezza (Norman castle on lava cliffs and the Cyclops sea stacks); rent kayaks or book a boat tour in season. Food lovers can add a hands-on class like a Sicilian cooking lesson to master pasta alla norma and caponata.

Budgeting cheat sheet (approx.): Coffee + pastry €3–€5; arancini €2–€4; trattoria pasta €10–€15; seafood mains €16–€28; regionale train to Taormina €6–€10; Etna guided tour €55–€90; full-day culture trips €80–€120.

Why this week works: You’ll stay put in walkable Catania—no hotel hops—while day-tripping to Sicily’s greatest hits. The mix balances food, history, sea, and volcano vistas, with enough downtime for a second cannolo.

Optional add-on Viator experiences (if you prefer swapping): For a wine-focused volcano day, consider Mt Etna and Wine tasting tour from Catania or a hands-on Cooking lesson in Catania with lunch or dinner.

Summary: One week in Catania delivers a concentrated slice of Sicily—lava-stone boulevards, market theatrics, Etna’s wild slopes, and day trips to Taormina and Syracuse. You’ll eat superbly, learn centuries of history with each piazza, and leave with salt on your skin and pistachio on your palate.