Piazza Duomo Tours and Activities
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Piazza Duomo is both a jewel of the Sicilian baroque and the vibrant heart of Catania. Home to some of the city’s most sumptuous architectural treasures, including Palazzo degli Elefanti, the Cathedral di Sant’Agata (Duomo), and the Fontana dell’Elefante, this square is a highlight of Catania city tours.
The Basics
A showpiece of contrasting white limestone and black lava stone designed by architect Giovanni Battista Vaccarini, Piazza Duomo is the jumping-off point for many walking and Segway tours of Catania’s historic center. Join a private or small-group Catania tour to visit the square along with other top attractions such as Castello Ursino and Monastero dei Benedettini.
A must-see in Catania, the piazza is home to some of the city’s top attractions. The monumental Fontana dell'Elefante is surrounded by the ornate Palazzo Degli Elefanti, which now houses city hall. The palatial Cathedral of Sant’Agata has a marble facade incorporating two rows of pilfered Roman columns. Also here are the elegant Bishop’s Palace and the arched walkway of Porta Uzeda.
Things to Know Before You Go
- Vast, pedestrian-only Piazza Duomo is a welcome break from traffic for families with young kids.
- If you’re joining a walking tour of Catania, wear comfortable shoes and a sun hat.
- Piazza Duomo is well paved and easy to navigate with a wheelchair or stroller.
- As Catania’s main square, Piazza Duomo often hosts concerts and other special events.
How to Get There
Piazza Duomo is located in the heart of Catania’s historic city center, an easy walk from the Catania Centrale train station.
When to Get There
Like all Sicilian cities, Catania can be uncomfortably hot in the summer months, and Piazza Duomo offers no shade. Try to visit in the early morning or late afternoon to avoid the midday heat, or plan to tour the city in spring or fall.
Catania’s Symbolic Fountains
Piazza Duomo’s star attraction is Vaccarini’s monumental Fontana dell'Elefante, built in 1736. At the the center of the square, the fountain is crowned by the city’s emblem: a statue of an elephant carrying an obelisk. Local lore holds that the elephant belonged to the 8th-century magician Heliodorus, said to have been able to turn people into animals, and that the obelisk magically keeps Mount Etna's volcano in check. The second fountain in the square, the Amenano fountain, was built by Neapolitan sculptor Tito Angelini in the 19th century to memorialize the ancient Amenano River, on whose banks the Greeks first founded the city of Catania.
Address: Catania, Italy
4 Tours and Activities to Experience Piazza Duomo
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Catania Street Food Walking Tour
106
Discover the street food and snacks of Catania on a daytime walking tour around the city. Visit the main piazza, and the elegant Via dei Crociferi or Benedettini enclave, learning about Catania’s food and its place in Sicilian culture as you stroll. Sample treats at market stalls and bakeries, and then leave armed with tips for the best places to eat in town. A food 'passport' is included so you can keep track of your favorite bites along the way.
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From
$59.41
From
$59.41
Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
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Discover Catania from fabulous viewpoints with your personal photographer
The only tour of Catania where you don't have to worry about photographs, because you have a personal photographer who always follows you and takes all the moments of this special tour of Catania from the most beautiful and panoramic points!
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From
$74.62
From
$74.62
Etna Nature and Flavors Half-Day Tour from Catania
128
This tour makes it easier than ever to get up close and personal with Mt. Etna: Europe’s highest active volcano, and one of Sicily’s most visible landmarks. Journey to Rifugio Sapienza, at Etna’s base, before your trek; all equipment is included, and an add-on journey to its crater is available (own expense). Next, explore the volcano’s lava caves before stopping at an area farm for a sampling of local products.
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From
$66.69
From
$66.69
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
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Food tour of Catania by night
1
3hr strolling around the backstreets of Catania city center to find the best local. street food. Your Catanese guide will walk you around her favorite food spots to try the traditional beloved food,such as the rice arancini, the horse meatballs, some tasty fish recipe and finally ends with the refreshing granita. This is a off the beaten path walking tour. You will step in places you would have hardly found on your own such as the secret lava tunnel situated downtown. This is the ideal tour for foodies and adventure travellers who want to discover the real local culture skipping touristy stuff!
The sicilian street food consists of snacks served in deli shops and eaten by hands. No restaurants no fancy places! this tour is perfect for greedy eaters, not for picky eaters :) come join us and discover the real street spirit of Catania. Not only food! your guide will also talk about history, traditions and daily habits.
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From
$66.69
From
$66.69
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
Learn More
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