Bed and breakfast accommodation in Catania Monasteries

East-coast Catania, Sicily’s second-largest city, is an ancient settlement crouching in the shadow of Mount Etna. First impressions are of sprawling industrial suburbs, chaotic traffic, and noise. Head for the centre though, and you’ll find yourself in a splendid, largely 18th-century city centre. Catania was virtually obliterated by a catastrophic earthquake in 1693, one of seventeen that have destroyed the city down the ages, which laid waste many towns in this part of Sicily. The Catanians appointed a brilliant architect from rival Palermo, Giovanni Battista Vaccarini, to design a new city centre, and what you see today is largely his work. There are superb baroque buildings, churches and monuments, many along Via Etnea, the main drag, which runs from the Piazza del Duomo, an elegant 18th-century square that’s also home to the Fontana dell’Elefante, the symbol of Catania. Near here are the food markets, some of the most vibrant, colourful and stimulating in Italy.

Founded by the Greeks, Catania became a Roman city and by 535 was part of the eastern Roman Empire and thus part of Byzantium, following the orthodox Christian faith. It fell to the Arab invaders and became part of the Islamic Emirate of Sicily. As elsewhere, its citizens were given freedom to follow whatever religion they pleased, and the Arabs also encouraged scholarship and learning.  In 1072 the Norman king Roger I expelled the Moors and Catania since then has remained a deeply religious Christian city. 

Catania’s patron saint is Santa Agata, a 3rd-century martyr born in Sicily. Her feast is in February and is celebrated over three days, with day and night-time processions that include huge golden candelabra, an image of the saint, and a silver carriage that’s followed by the saint’s devotees, all wearing long white tunics.