Car Hire Catania

A quick guide to Catania

From its ruggedly handsome UNESCO-listed centre to its ancient ruins, its vibrant dining scene to its thronging market, Catania teems with life and energy. Mount Etna may loom in the distance, but this is a city that has been going about it business for thousands of years with wit and élan.

A fortune of fish

In the Renaissance period, Catania was one of the most important cultural and political places in Italy, and the thumbprint of the era is all over the city. The grand square, Piazza del Duomo, is flanked by grand Baroque architecture. You’ll find the Palazzo degli Elefanti, Catania’s town hall, in the square and the Elephant Fountain – the animal a key symbol of the city.

Right next to this is La Pescheria, the pungent but brilliant fish market. The restaurateurs get here early, but you’ll also find locals picking up sparklingly fresh seafood here, glistening mounds of shellfish, swordfish and more. Naturally, it’s a great place to shop, but also a fantastic one to eat at, with numerous restaurants doing a roaring trade in fish straight from the market.

Savouring Sicilian flavours

Sicilian cuisine is a mix of mouth-wateringly creamy, fruity and zesty Italian and Mediterranean flavours. You’ll discover this in any of the amazing restaurants in Catania, where you can taste the magic of Sicily in every bite of fresh seafood, and crusty bread soaked in olive oil. Try the pasta alla norma – it’s a fantastic dish of handmade pasta, aubergines, tomatoes and ricotta cheese.

On the streets, opt for arancini, the ubiquitous fried rice balls made from risotto, or smoky, grilled meat. As in the rest of Sicily, you’ll find cannoli everywhere, the perfect way to end a meal.

A glimpse of ancient Sicily

Take the E45 and in roughly one hour you’ll arrive in sun-kissed Syracuse, the birthplace of Archimedes. Sitting on the south-eastern coast of the island, Syracuse offers some breathtaking views from the many coastal lookouts along the promenade. It’s probably best known for its amphitheatre carved into the rock and a plethora of ancient Greek ruins that tell a story of how this was once one of the world’s most powerful cities.

Taormina is another phenomenal town, just an hour away on the E45. It’s the perfect place to stop off and enjoy lunch and a little gelato. While there you should also visit their 3^rd century BC Greek theatre, framed in a dramatic setting in front of Mount Etna.

The marvellous mountain

Walk up Via Etna and you’ll have an incredible view of Mount Etna as it towers over the city. Seeing this giant up close – the best way to experience it - will mean driving to the base of the mountain and jumping on the cable car to climb most of the way – before hiking the final trek. It’s worth every bead of perspiration it takes to get to the top -  at this unrivalled vantage point you can take in the sheer, sensational expanse of your surroundings. It’s an experience you’ll never forget, and one that’s possible with car hire in Catania, one of Sicily’s jewels.

Driving in and around Catania

Catania is a lively city – as you’ll notice when you’re cruising along its roads and streets. If you plan ahead, you can navigate through the city with ease. The roads are a pleasure to coast along, lined with memorable views and incredible sights.

The E45 runs from north to south all along the east coast of Sicily and skirts the entirety of Catania. There are several departure points to leave it and enter the city in the south, centre and north of Catania. You can follow it in either direction for rapid access to the rest of eastern Sicily. Alternatively, you can take the SS114 for a truly coastal drive. It leads from close to the airport, all along the seafront in both directions.

Leave the city and travel on the A19 for just over 200km and you’ll arrive in the capital, Palermo. The A19 is one of the autostradas which connect major cities in Italy. They are easy roads to travel on, with clear signage and mostly free flowing traffic. In terms of speed, traffic moves at speeds up to 130km/h on motorways, but you’ll see clear signs to follow throughout the island. The only toll roads here are the A18 from Messina to Catania and the A20 from Messina to Palermo. Our local teams can advise you on the best way to pay for these if you have any questions.

If you want to avoid the tolls completely, take one of the SS routes across Sicily – they’re quieter and more narrow than the motorways. Take a trip on the SS120, which you can easily join just outside Catania. It’s one of the most breathtaking drives in the area, taking in the rolling hills of Nebrodi Park.