Fontana dell'Elefante

Join our street food tour of Catania! A unique experience that will immerse you in the local culture and history of the city. The local cuisine is influenced by two fundamental elements: the beautiful sun-kissed Mediterranean sea that warms the Sicilian lands and the majestic Mount Etna, Europe's most active volcano. The combination of these two factors makes Catania's gastronomic offer incredibly lively. The sale of take-away food in Catania stems from the encounter of the various peoples and cultures that have lived in the city over time: Greeks, Latins, Spanish, Jews and Arabs to name but a few. Each people has introduced its own gastronomic customs into the Sicilian tradition, sharing in the birth of today's delicious, crispy and lively dishes, often prepared in plain sight by the skilful hands of local experts. With our Catania street food tour you can sample the best of Sicilian street food, walking through the noisy and colourful streets of the historic centre, accompanied by a local gastronomic expert. With us you'll have a chance to taste: - Arancini: World-famous Arancini consist of a ball of rice stuffed with a variety of ingredients (meat, cooked ham, spinach, pistachios, aubergines and more) and then fried as tradition dictates. - Sicilian Caponata: This is a mixture of fried vegetables (mostly aubergines), seasoned with tomato sauce, celery, onion, olives, capers, sugar and vinegar. There are numerous variations of it, as it is widespread throughout the Mediterranean Sea. Caponata is generally used today as a side dish or hors d'oeuvre, but since the 18th century it has been a main course. - Fried fish cone: A delicious cone filled with various types of fried fish, caught that day! - Catanese cipollina: A Sicilian rustic pastry made of puff pastry, filled with fried onions, cooked ham and stringy cheese. A classic piece of Catanese rotisserie, which you will love from the first bite. A crispy, flaky shell that encloses a warm, stringy, sweet filling inside. - Cartocciata: From Catania is a stuffed, fragrant and flavourful rustic pastry. A Sicilian rotisserie speciality, it is similar to a small baked calzone, from which it differs due to its higher and softer dough. - Sicilian Cannoli: The wafer, traditionally moulded around a hot metal bar, is filled with a sweet and creamy preparation made with ricotta cheese, candied fruit, crunchy pistachios or dark chocolate chips. An explosion of taste and colour! You can find the recipe here. - Sicilian Granita: Perfect for relaxing and cooling down on hot summer afternoons. It is served in a glass and is ideal to end a rich meal on a high note. Fresh fruit, sugar and ice are the necessary ingredients - simple, but incredibly tasty!

Discover the soul of the ancient city of Catania on a guided walking tour. Explore the historical center of Catania with a local guide. Gain insight into the history and architecture of this city with a local guide. Meet your guide at the Elephant Statue and symbol of Catania in Piazza del Duomo. Marvel at the stunning dome of the cathedral in Piazza del Duomo. See how lava stone has given a unique flair to churches and late Baroque palaces in Catania. Head to Pescheria, the vibrant historic fish market. Reach Crociferi street where you can see the ornate church of San Benedetto and the church of San Giuliano which is a stunning example of Catania Baroque. Finish at Etnea where there are ruins, historical buildings, and shopping. Have the option of purchasing an arancino, a Sicilian cannoli, or another delicacy.

At this tour you will taste the specialties of the local street food: from traditional arancini, to sweet cannoli, fried fish and delicious cipollina. You will also enjoy the lively atmosphere at the daily, morning, historic market "Pescheria" (market is open only in the morning) where among colours, smells and noises you can also learn about the varieties of local fish. This is not only the simple street food tour, because our great, local guide will show you the most important highlights and will share with you a lot of interesting information about the city and Sicilian culture. Join our small group to live a real experience! :-) We can also accomodate the vegetarian diet. This tour unfortunately is not suitable for a gluten-free diet.

Join this guided tour and see Sicily's hidden gems. Discover the rich history of the picturesque town, Catania. Visit the Ursino Castle, the Cathedral of Sant'Agata, and the most famous theatre in Italy. Start your tour from the 13th-century Ursino Castle. Make sure you have your camera as you don't want to miss taking a snapshot of the superb architecture, a creative mix of Eastern and Western design. Pass by the Via Auteri, the Roman baths, and you will see Catania's fish market. Marvel at the array of sea creatures as you walk along. From the fish market, you will head to the Piazza del Duomo. Admire the Baroque buildings and the elephant fountain.  Next, you will visit the Cathedral of Sant'Agata, built-in 1090 above the Roman baths of Achille. After the earthquake of 1693, the Cathedral was completely rebuilt. Inside, see the tomb of the famous composer Vincenzo Bellini and many Aragonese kings.  Feeling hungry? No worries, enjoy some famous Sicilian arancino, a specific product in the shape of a drop and filled with rice and meat sauce, to be eaten strictly with the hands holding it from the bottom end. Continue walking to the Bellini Theater, which stages the Opera. Admire the magnificent building. Make sure you take pics as you will want to get this impressive building on your Instagram feed.  Next, stroll along to the Via Vittorio Emanuele. Finally, the tour will end at the Benedictine monastery and the Church of San Nicolò.

Enjoy Catania, “the black city” named after the colour of lava rock, on this amazing walking tour. We will visit the main attractions, such as the Benedictine monastery (outside) and the Church of San Nicolò, where we will see the typical “candelore” from the traditional local celebrations during the Feast of Sant’Agata. We will visit a small cave where the river flows, which the 1669 lava flow covered forever. We will discover the Fish Market, the Cathedral, the historic Elephant Fountain and University Square.