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Street · Catânia, Sicília
Via Etnea
Catania's main street, which starts at the Piazza del Duomo and climbs straight toward the Etna, with Baroque churches, shops, cafés and the garden of the Villa Bellini.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Via Etnea
Via Etnea runs through Catania from south to north for about 3 km, from the Piazza del Duomo to the Borgo district. It was laid out in the rebuilding after the 1693 earthquake, in a straight line and pointed toward Etna, which appears at the end of the street when the sky is clear.
In the first stretch is the Piazza Università, with the Palazzo dell'Università and the Palazzo San Giuliano. Next come the Basilica della Collegiata, a Baroque church with a curved façade, the Piazza Stesicoro, where part of the Roman amphitheater can be seen below street level, and shops, cafés and patisseries.
Higher up is the Villa Bellini, the city's best-known public garden, with a flower clock, a bandstand, tree-lined paths and a viewpoint from which you can see Etna.
The street is the place for the late-afternoon stroll, the passeggiata of the people of Catania. Via dei Crociferi, parallel to the west, has a succession of Baroque churches and convents and is worth the detour.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
Between 1 and 2 hours on foot, with stops at the amphitheater and Villa Bellini.
Best time
In the late afternoon, when the street fills for the stroll and the heat eases. To see Etna at the end of the street, prefer clear mornings.
How to get there
It begins at the Piazza del Duomo. From Catania Centrale station, city buses stop along the street; on foot it's about 20 minutes to the Piazza Stesicoro.
Tip
Stop at a pastry shop to try granita with brioche. Take the detour along Via dei Crociferi, a few steps to the west, to see the Baroque churches.
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Via Etnea
Can you see the Etna from Via Etnea?
Yes, at the end of the street when the sky is clear. The street was laid out pointing toward the volcano.
What is Villa Bellini?
Catânia's main public garden, in the upper part of Via Etnea, with a floral clock, a bandstand and a view of the Etna. It is named after the composer Vincenzo Bellini.
Where is the Roman amphitheatre located?
In Piazza Stesicoro, on Via Etnea itself. Part of it is visible below street level; the rest continues under the buildings.