Best Western Hotel Catania

Best Western Hotel Mediterraneo
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Location

What to see in Catania
our suggestions

The Best Western Hotel Mediterraneo is in a prime location for visiting the historic center of Catania on foot, and is an ideal starting point to reach all major attractions.

Very close to the Hotel Mediterraneo is the splendid Palazzo delle Poste and Villa Bellini, whose garden is embellished with fountains, ancient trees, and statues of illustrious Catanese men, including Giovanni Verga.

Continuing on, among the stunning Baroque facades of 18th-century buildings, we come to Piazza Stesicoro, the monument to Bellini, the 2nd-century AD Roman Amphitheater and the Church of San Biagio, built on the site of St. Agatha’s martyrdom.

Along Via Etnea we come to Piazza Università (where the Palazzo dell’Università and Palazzo San Giuliano stand) and, continuing on, the Basilica Collegiata, which houses works by Sciuti and Sozzi.

The tour of the cirrà continues with Piazza Duomo, where stands the Cathedral that holds the relics of St. Agatha, the city’s patron saint, and Vincenzo Bellini.In the center of Piazza Duomo stands the Fountain of the Elephant, consisting of a lava stone elephant from the Roman era, the symbol of the city. The square is also overlooked by Vaccarini’s Palazzo del Municipio and Palazzo Chierici, by Alozo di Benedetto, while on the left stands Porta Uzeda, erected in honor of Spanish viceroy Paceco de Uzeda.

Definitely worth visiting is the Ursino Castle in Piazza Federico II and its interesting Civic Museum, as well as Via dei Crociferi, enriched by sumptuous Baroque churches and 18th-century palaces. Along this street are, precisely, the arch and Church of St. Benedict, the Church of St. Francesco Borgia, the former Jesuit College that houses the Art Institute and the Church of St. Giuliano.

Among the wonders of the Baroque in Catania, you’ll also notice Palazzo Biscari, with its beautifully frescoed rooms still used for lavish parties and weddings.

Catania’s markets resemble as smells, tastes and colors the Islamic souks and for this reason they have become real tourist attractions in the city. Next to the world-famous Pescheria, the historic Market of Piazza Carlo Alberto, called “La Fiera del Lunedi,” also enjoys an excellent reputation, despite being held every day. At the Carlo Alberto Square Market you will find typical handicrafts, new and used clothing, as well as the Sunday flea market.

In the image the city of Catania

sea

The 70 km of Catania’s coastline is very varied indeed, and you can choose between the lava cliffs and the 9 km of white sand south of the Port.

Wonders from the sea

The foce del Simeto, with its natural ponds, bends, and marshes, is a protected home for migratory and resident birds and certainly one of the most striking areas. The landscape is unspoiled, with wide expanses of golden sand, dunes and crystal-clear sea.

A few meters from the shoreline one can observe old fishermen, submerged up to the trunk, as they sound out coll ingegnu (a triangle rake with a net) the shallow water in search of mussels; while behind them is the green area of the boschetto della Plaja.

The sandy beach ends at the Catania port call where the lava cliffs begin.

Past the giant black lava pebble smoothed by the sea( an example of industrial archaeology and a tribute to the sea and Etna) you can see the bathing beaches on the rocks leading from Piazza Europa to S.Giovanni li Cuti, an old fishing village with a small beach of black sand and lava pebbles between rocks.

And after scogliera nera del Rotol here is the fishing village of Ognina, once the natural harbor (Ulysses harbor for Pliny) of the city of Catania, whose sea fed a type of seaweed that attracted imperial shrimp and brown damselfish as pasture.

From Ognina we catch a glimpse of Aci Castle, a Norman fortress erected in 1076 on a cliff overlooking the sea, now home to the local civic museum.

ETNA

Etna is an active volcano which at fairly close periods goes into eruption usually beginning with a period of outgassing and emission of volcanic ash followed by magma emission.

Four craters are currently recognized: Central, New Mouth, Northeast Crater, and South east Crater (which has recently required more monitoring), and effusive activity is being recorded at lower elevations with new mouth openings.

Over the years, Mount Etna has shown itself to be among the most active in the world, being periodically affected by spectacular eruptions to be admired that pose no risk to the city and people.

nature

Thanks to its strategic location, the Hotel Mediterraneo in Catania is the ideal starting point for being surprised by the nature reserves of the Catania province, characterized by unique flora and fauna.

  • Parco Naturalistico dell’Etna

  • Parco dell’Alcantara

  • Parco dei Nebrodi

  • Il Simeto

  • La Riserva di Fiumefreddo

  • La Timpa di Acireale

  • Il Complesso Immacolatelle e Micio Conti

  • Il Bosco di San Pietro

  • Il bosco di Santa Maria la Stella
in Catania
excursions

Thanks to the agreement that our hotel has entered into with Etna Tribe, you can choose a day trip to the beautiful Syracuse and Taormina with departure from Catania and enjoy up to 25% discount on the price of the excursion (from € 45).

The tour includes a visit to the seaside village of Giardini Naxos and walk along the seafront promenade that skirts the beautiful bay of Naxos.

After a brief stop at the enchanting Isola Bella, a nature reserve connected to the mainland by a thin tongue of sand, we will arrive in picturesque Taormina to admire its main monuments and most characteristic views: Palazzo Corvaja, Teatro antico, Piazza IX Aprile, Torre dell’orologio, La Cattedrale Fortezza, Badia Vecchia and Palazzo Duca di Santo Stefano, not forgetting the shopping in the exclusive stores that alternate with characteristic artisan workshops.

This excursion includes a visit to the Neapolis Archaeological Park, which houses most of the monuments of Greek and Roman Syracuse: the Greek Theater, still used for classical performances, the Roman Amphitheater, the Latomia del Paradiso with the Ear of Dionysius and the Cave of the Cordari, the Altar of Hieron and the Church of St. Nicholas at the Cordari.

We then continue with a tour of Ortigia among Greek temples and Christian churches, Swabian, Aragonese and Baroque palaces, courtyards, Arab alleys, stores, the splendid Arethusa Fountain and the Baroque Piazza Duomo surrounded by noble palaces.

A visit to Noto, the absolute jewel of Sicilian Baroque, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is also planned, where it will be possible to stroll along the main street, Corso Vittorio Emanuele, and admire the many palaces and churches that earn it the nickname “stone garden.”

university

The University of Catania was founded in 1434 and is the oldest university in Sicily as well as one of the largest in Italy, thanks to more than 60,000 enrolled students spread across its 22 departments.

The university campus is easily accessible from the Best Western Hotel Mediterraneo, which is an ideal accommodation for those who need to attend the universityor take part in one of the many events, seminars or conferences held in the Faculties of Law, Biology, Humanities and Agriculture.

etnaland

The 3-star Best Western Hotel Mediterraneo, just minutes from the center of Catania, invites you to spend a pleasant weekend with your family, taking advantage of its proximity to the beautiful amusement park.

Etnaland is a park composed of the Prehistoric Park, Themepark and Acquapark capable of satisfying the fun needs of the whole family: from the 34 attractions dedicated to the youngest children and thrill-seekers of the Themepark(open from April to October, with evening hours in July and August) to the purely summer fun of the Acquapark(open from July 1 to September 8) via the scientific and educational reproductions of the Prehistoric Park.

during the stay

to cuddle

Catania is a city that fascinates because of the beauty and importance of the historical and cultural evidence, yet the city’s lively historic center is also an ideal destination to indulge in shopping, getting lost among gastronomic delights, clothing and typical handicrafts such as puppets, knights or hand-carved wooden candelabra.

The Best Western Hotel Mediterraneo, a 3-star hotel in Catania just minutes from the center, is the ideal starting point to reach Via Etnea, along which are large department stores and fashionable boutiques.

Just before Via Bellini you will find Via Pacini, specializing in low-priced fashion garments, footwear, underwear and accessories.

In addition to the famous Pescheria, during your stay in Catania, don’t miss the Fera or Luni market in Piazza Carlo Alberto, with stalls selling fruits, vegetables, and fresh produce.

Catania cuisine was born from the combination of agricultural products and the fruits of the sea and over time has been influenced by different peoples and cultures.

Some of the typical dishes you can enjoy in restaurants in downtown Catania are:

  • gli arancini
  • la caponata
  • la pasta alla norma
  • le sarde a beccafico
  • gli spaghetti alla carrettiera.

Also not to be forgotten are typical Catanese desserts such as almond pastries, marzipan, cannoli and ricotta cakes, panzerotti, granita, and homemade ice cream.

The Pescheria is Catania’s historic fish market held daily in the historic center near Piazza Duomo and is one of the city’s most engaging folk traditions.

Wandering around the maze of narrow streets in the center, surrounded by the scent of the sea and the insistent voices of the vendors, is an experience not to be missed, which is why the Pescheria is one of the favorite destinations for tourists visiting Catania.

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