Sicily is one of the most popular regions for tourists in Italy. City breaks in Palermo or Catania, the island’s two gateway cities, offer an opposite, but equally exciting introduction to the Sicilian way of life.

Palermo may be considered the more traditional of the two, but Catania, despite its modernity and sense of commerce, still has its share of culturally and historically significant sites, enough to rival anywhere else in Italy. City breaks to this paradise on the Ionian coast, with its volcanic stone buildings and lively night scene, offer not only modern facilities and an urban lifestyle, but also a glimpse into ancient traditions, architectural masterpieces (including the oldest university in Sicily), archaeological treasures and even scars and remains of the cataclysmic eruptions of Mount Etna.

Duomo square

This UNESCO World Heritage Site should definitely be your first stop when visiting Sicily on your Italian vacation. City breaks in Catania would not be complete without admiring the beauty of a Baroque church, and the impressive façade of the Cattedrale di Sant’ Agata is widely recognized as one of the best examples of this style. The church, made of volcanic rock, was built to replace a Norman cathedral, which was destroyed by an earthquake in 1693. The church houses the relics of Saint Agatha, as well as the tomb of Vincenzo Bellini, Sicily’s greatest musician. The Duomo is also the site of the Fontana dell’Elefante, a whimsical fountain built in 1736, featuring a grinning elephant (locally known as Liotru) with an upturned trunk carrying an Egyptian obelisk. According to legend, the obelisk was imbued with magical powers to help keep eruptions from Mount Etna in check. Magical or not, the fountain is undoubtedly one of the most loved and photographed monuments in Catania.

Roman ruins

Although devastated by time and earthquakes (such as the famous one in 1693), Catania still shows the vestiges of being one of the most prosperous ancient cities in the country. Your itinerary must include a visit to the sunken ruins of the Anfiteatro Romano di Catania (Roman Amphitheatre) in Piazza Stesicoro, to reveal just a hint of the glory that was Rome. This ancient stadium where gladiators fought once held 16,000 spectators. With an inner perimeter of approximately 193 meters, and extending south to Via Penninello, it was second in size to the Colosseum in Rome.

Rotunda Baths

The remains of Achillea Thermae, Catania’s ancient thermal bath complex, are another must-see attraction during your visit to this part of Italy. City breaks should include a lot on the itinerary, but this site is not to be missed. This complex of interconnected square buildings offers another perspective on the lifestyle of the ancient Romans. The largest of the buildings is a large room with an apse, from which the site gets its name. In addition to the baths there is an ancient pagan temple (the oldest in Catania) on which a Christian church dedicated to the Virgin Mary was later built.