Welcome Cruisers!

Catania, with its wide Port close to the city centre, is the ideal city for you, who can enjoy even in short time the beauty and flavour of this pearl of the baroque.Sight and taste, the senses which accompany the wonder of the baroque concept, are just the typical senses of the tourist, and Catania, thought as a great theatre, matches perfectly with these senses, showing its magical landscape, where the Etna, the highest active Volcano in Europe, overtops the city, acting as a natural background of  via Etnea… …which starts from Piazza Duomo, where the Cathedral stretches skywards, keeping the relics of the patron Saint, to whom the city dedicates since centuries one of the three greatest feasts of Christianity in the world: the Feast of S.Agata. Here, under the “Liotru” – the elephant, symbol of the city – the sacred meets the profane in the multicoloured “Pescheria”, the market of fish and of the Sicilian red oranges.
From here, looking at the end of via Garibaldi, you can see another theatrical wing: the Porta Ferdinandea. Going towards the Porta, you will find the unexpected view of the impressive medieval castle belonged to the emperor Federico II, the Castello Ursino, now a museum keeping precious greek vases, finds of the roman period, and a collection of paintings from XV to XIX century. Back to the main road, via Etnea, after the earthquake of 1693 designed with a modern earthquake-proof system, you can enjoy its spectacular and airy squares, where, set among wonderful baroque buildings and churches, you can find many stores and boutiques, coffee bar, snack bar and ice-cream parlours, where you can taste the famous “granita”, the crushed ice drink to eat with the hot brioches, the delicious almond or pistachio cakes, and the typical “cannolo” with ricotta. You will reach then Piazza Stesicoro, where the sight of the greek-roman amphitheatre compares to that of the great market, “a fera o Luni”, held every day in the open air. Walking along the streets which cross the main road you can find some architecture treasures, too. From the Quattro Canti, the characteristic baroque crossroads, via San Giuliano will lead you to the artistic via Crociferi, and also to the ancient acropolis, and to the Benedictine monastery, the largest in Europe. Beyond the city centre you can reach in ten minutes by car the modern city. Here those who love shopping can reach Corso Italia, an elegant boulevard rich in very fashionable boutiques, stretching from Piazza Europa to Piazza Verga.
Closer to the Port, near the central Station, it is worth visiting the trade show centre Le Ciminiere, where you can find the Museum of Cinema, the characteristic Museum of the Landing, or some other interesting temporary exhibition or event.
Otherwise, just 2 km from the city centre, you can reach the promenade of the lava stone cliff, stretching to the fishermen suburb of San Giovanni Li Cuti.