← Catania Marathon·Day trip

Central Catania: Lava Stone and a Long Straight Street

A flat recovery day in a city built from black lava, with a cathedral square, a fish market and one long street that points at a volcano.

DurationDay trip
TransitBus or taxi from La Plaia, about 20 to 30 min
DepartsLa Plaia

After the Catania Marathon: Central Catania

The Route: La Plaia → Piazza Duomo → Via Etnea → Castello Ursino Logistics: City bus or taxi from the seafront to the centre, then on foot. The sights are all within about 2 km of each other and the streets are level. Marathon Month: December Duration: Day trip

La Plaia ──(20-30 mins bus/taxi)──> Piazza Duomo ──(walk)──> Via Etnea
                                         │
                                Castello Ursino (walk)

The Catania Marathon finishes at Lido Verde, on the long beach south of the city, and most runners spend the day after it staring at a menu and the day after that looking for the centre. The centre is worth the trip. Catania was rebuilt after the earthquake of 1693 in the black volcanic stone of Etna, and the result is a city where the pavements, the palaces and the church façades are all the colour of wet slate.

December in Catania: mild and often bright, with daytime temperatures around 14 to 17 °C and a fair chance of rain. Etna is usually snow-capped and visible from the end of Via Etnea on a clear day. The city is busy with locals rather than tourists.

The AMTS buses run from the seafront to the centre. Check the Monday timetable at the stop or on the AMTS site, or take a taxi and agree the fare first.

The day

Start at Piazza Duomo. The cathedral is dedicated to Saint Agatha, the city's patron, and the square holds the Fontana dell'Elefante, a small black lava elephant carrying an Egyptian obelisk, known locally as Liotru. The square is flat, paved and lined with benches.

Behind the cathedral, the Pescheria is a fish market that runs in the morning. Fishmongers shout, ice melts across the cobbles and the stalls are the best free entertainment in the city. It is a morning affair, so go early and check that it is running on your day. Stay out of the wet patches on the stone, which are slippery.

From the square, Via Etnea runs north in a straight line for several kilometres, lined with cafes and shops. It is level, wide and easy on tired legs. Walk as far as the Teatro Massimo Bellini, which is dedicated to the Catania-born composer Vincenzo Bellini, and turn back when your legs say so.

On the edge of the old town, Castello Ursino is a thirteenth-century fortress that now houses a museum. The sea used to reach its walls until the 1669 eruption of Etna pushed the coastline out. Check the opening days and the ticket price before you go. The Roman Theatre and Odeon, buried under the old town and built in lava stone, are also worth a look if the schedule allows. Confirm the current hours.

For lunch, pasta alla Norma is the local dish: pasta with tomato, fried aubergine and ricotta salata. Arancini, fried rice balls, are the street food. Check whether your chosen place is open on a Monday.

Getting back

Take the bus or taxi back to La Plaia, or on to the airport if you are flying. Catania Fontanarossa is the city's airport and connects to the centre by a dedicated airport bus. Check the current service.