When you go on vacation in Catania, one of the must-see stops is undoubtedly Catania Piazza Duomo, but few know what specifically there is to see, and especially where to eat something truly good and characteristic.
Piazza del Duomo in Catania is the main square of the city, and in fact, three streets converge on it, namely the well-known Via Etnea, Via Giuseppe Garibaldi, and Via Vittorio Emanuele II. On the eastern side of the square, the majestic Duomo rises, dedicated to the patron saint of the city, celebrated every year on February 5th.
On the north side of the square, you will find the Palazzo degli Elefanti, which is the City Hall of the city, while on the other side, you will see the famous Amenano Fountain, very important for the people of Catania, into which coins are usually thrown (similar to what happens with the Trevi Fountain with the piglet in Florence).
Next to the fountain, there is the Palazzo dei Chierici, which is connected to the Duomo by a passage that runs along Porta Uzeda. The terraces of the Palazzo del Seminario dei Chierici and Porta Uzeda can be accessed through the Diocesan Museum of Catania, which is located in the Palazzo del Seminario dei Chierici adjacent to the Cathedral.
From the terraces, you can admire two splendid panoramas: on one side, there is the spectacle of Piazza del Duomo with the Elephant Fountain and Via Etnea made even more special by Mount Etna in the background, and on the other side, you can see the walls of Carlo V, the port, and all the arches of the Marina leading to the Ursino Castle.
Returning briefly to the center of the square, we see what is the symbol of the city of Catania, namely “u Liotru,” a statue in lava stone depicting a graceful elephant, surmounted by an obelisk, placed exactly in the center of a marble fountain that has been renovated several times.
The curiosities of Catania Piazza Duomo: read below
One thing not to be missed in Catania is the Achilliane Baths, underground thermal structures dating back to the 4th-5th century and located about 4/5 meters below the main square. The baths are accessed through the Diocesan Museum of Catania: a corridor with a barrel vault carved between the Roman structures and the foundations of the cathedral itself, a passage that allows you to journey into the bowels of the city, right where the Amenano river flows.
But where to eat at Piazza Duomo? Well, let’s say that here every place has its charm, so even this ranking of ours was quite difficult to compile. The first restaurant we want to tell you about is Timo Bistrot, which offers excellent quality ingredients that meet the flavors of their organic garden. Here, it is essential to explore the wine list in order to enjoy a good glass in a decidedly suggestive atmosphere.
Another place to eat is the Sikulč restaurant, specialized in the preparation of tasty and refined dishes of fresh fish. Here, the folkloric and welcoming atmosphere attracts an infinite number of tourists every day who want to enjoy a meal in total relaxation but still in the name of good food. The location consists of two rooms, one indoor where you can watch and choose the catch of the day, and one outdoor which instead has a view directly of the majestic Duomo.
