Via Etnea
4
Tours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
Full view
What is Travellers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Top ways to experience Via Etnea
The area
Neighbourhood: Borgo-Sanzio
Best nearby
Restaurants
1,637 within 5 kms
Attractions
259 within 10 kms
Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
748 reviews
Excellent
312
Very good
326
Average
96
Poor
11
Terrible
3
Ramon
735 contributions
Sept 2022 • Couples
We visited Catania and its main shopping street during our Sicily vacation. In comparison to other towns it was rather unimpressive and didn't exactly give off that nice flair that we picked up at other places. If you are being in Catania, I'd recommend it still but generally it's not a place and street worth coming to especially.
Written 14 September 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Seeking True Quality
Europe4,803 contributions
May 2023 • Couples
The Via Etnea, leading north from the Duomo of Saint Agatha was understandably named after the volcano as the destiny of Catania is determined by its benevolence.
During our walking tour, we stopped briefly at the Piazza Università to see the classical buildings of the University on the west side and the Palazzo San Giuliano on the east side of the square.
A few steps from that square is the baroque church of Basilica della Collegiata, but we did not have time to visit it.
We also passed by the church Chiesa di San Michele Arcangelo ai Minoriti.
Last but not least we have to mention the beautiful shops on Via Etnea!
During our walking tour, we stopped briefly at the Piazza Università to see the classical buildings of the University on the west side and the Palazzo San Giuliano on the east side of the square.
A few steps from that square is the baroque church of Basilica della Collegiata, but we did not have time to visit it.
We also passed by the church Chiesa di San Michele Arcangelo ai Minoriti.
Last but not least we have to mention the beautiful shops on Via Etnea!
Written 27 April 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Michele Amico🇮🇹🇮🇹🇮🇹🇮🇹
Caltanissetta, Italy2,966 contributions
Jan 2020 • Family
Beautiful Catania, the second bigger city of the Sicily island, there are a lot of attractions, via Etnea is the main street.
Written 1 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Michele Amico🇮🇹🇮🇹🇮🇹🇮🇹
Caltanissetta, Italy2,966 contributions
May 2019 • Family
The main street of Catania City Is surely Via Etnea, starting from the Cathedral Square, to University place, then Piazza Stesi
coro and arriving to the Bellini Gardens, and more. This avenue has a lot of palaces built by Etna Stones.
coro and arriving to the Bellini Gardens, and more. This avenue has a lot of palaces built by Etna Stones.
Written 1 May 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Travelling Contessa
Vienna, Austria198 contributions
May 2016
This is the large, main shopping street of Catania. You will find a number of historic buildings flanking it.
Written 3 April 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
sayers17
Manchester, UK627 contributions
Jun 2019 • Couples
Decided to take a afternoon stroll and visit some shops and have lunch ended getting hassle of hawkers followed by pickpockets who I had to verbally tell to go away and touting of all the restaurant staff at the dumo end of the street enjoyed the main streets in other cities more
Written 14 June 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dan Maarek
Tel Aviv, Israel16,000 contributions
Aug 2019
Not really like the other famous avenues elsewhere in Italy, nor Corso Umberto in close Taormina, nor even Corso Vittorio Emanuele in Noto.
But since you are in Catania and the city and its architecture is interesting, not much of a choice.
So as long as you are there you'll probably walk around and why not stop for an ice cream or even better a Granitta (which I recommend pistachio, coffee or almond0
But since you are in Catania and the city and its architecture is interesting, not much of a choice.
So as long as you are there you'll probably walk around and why not stop for an ice cream or even better a Granitta (which I recommend pistachio, coffee or almond0
Written 1 October 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Vladimir F
Moscow, Russia51 contributions
May 2019
Via Etnea is very suitable street to stay in Catania during vacation. There are many attractions, shops and cafes on it. The main attractions such as St. Agatha Cathedral, Bellini Gardens, Roman Amphitheater, and Fountain with Elephant etc. are there. Here you can drink coffee and have a meal in pasticceria Savia.
Written 16 July 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Vadim
Murmansk, Russia34,571 contributions
Jul 2019
The name of the main street of Catania is very different from other cities in Italy, where it is usually Corso Vittorio Emanuele or via Garibaldi. However, with all due respect to Garibaldi, Etna was more important to Catania. It was both a nurse (the volcanic soil is the most fertile) and a killer, as in 1693, when a volcanic eruption led to the death of 2/3 of the inhabitants of Catania. Paradoxically, it was this eruption that gave rise to via Etnea. Medieval cities with their chaotic buildings didn`t know such wide streets like this street. Either the local Baron Osman, or Mussolini, or an earthquake could demolish private homes and pave wide avenues. The idea to build wide perpendicular streets belongs to the Duke of Camastra, who was sent on a mission to reconstruct Catania destroyed by an earthquake on January 11, 1693. Along the main street leading to the terrible Etna, 7 churches and palaces of the city's nobles were built. The procession honoring the patron Saint of Catania, St. Agatha, starts from the Church of Sant'agata al Borgo, and ends in the Cathedral of Her name. Many of the buildings here were designed by the chief architect of Catania Vaccarini. Vaccarini owns the authorship of the facade of the Cathedral. Moving further North, we come to The University square. Vaccarini designed here the Palace of San Giuliano and the courtyard of the University opposite. There are interesting sculptural groups on the square. The first group is about the Pia brothers who escaped during the eruption of Etna. They successfully overtook the lava, but their parents started to fall behind. They put them on their shoulders. The lava began to catch up with them, but did not engulf them, but split into two arms and rounded them, paying tribute to their loyalty. Another column is dedicated to the legend of the paladin Uzet, who defeated the Saracen giant Ursini, after whom the castle of Catania is named. The third pillar is dedicated to the legendary fisherman Colapse. The Emperor Frederick tested the Sicilian ichthyander's ability to find treasures under water. During the third test Colapse saw that Sicily stands on three pillars, one of which is quite worn out. He stood up like an Atlantean instead of a pillar. The fourth column is dedicated to a girl named Gammazita, who saved her honor in a confrontation with a French soldier by throwing herself into a well. moving further to Etna on the left side you will see an unusual Basilica della Collegata with a concave Baroque facade. The 3-kilometer via Etnea ended earlier at Piazza Stesicoro. The city gate of Catania was located here. A monument to the local composer Bellini adorns the square. The entrance to Villa Bellini is located further along the road. Moving further towards Etna, you will see the Botanical garden and the Church of Sant'Agata al Borgo, where the procession dedicated to Saint Agatha begins. This is a local via Dolorosa only dedicated not to Christ, but to Agatha. Along the way, the procession will visit the Church of Sant'agata la Vetere where St. Agata tied a shoelace on the way to prison, the Church of Sant'Agata al Carcere, where Agata was imprisoned and the Church of Sant'Agata alla Fornace, where according to legend the Saint was tortured with hot coals. However, this path does not follow via Etnea. The way along via Etnea is a visit to many (about 100) restaurants, cafes and bars. However I was under the impression that the locals prefer the restaurants around the castle of the Ursini.
Written 14 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
elia452
Sofia, Bulgaria41 contributions
Dec 2019 • Friends
It is a street with lots of shops for clothes, several restaurants and coffee bars. At one end of the street is mountain Etna, at the other end is the fish market and the port. Strangely, I didn't see supermarkets anywhere during my walks..
Written 7 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Луиза К
Ulyanovsk, Russia
Здравствуйте, хотела узнать как автобусной станции добраться до Виа Этна.
Written 1 August 2019
У автовокзала останавливается шаттл из аэропорта (Alibus), он потом едет по улице Этнеа. А в принципе, можно дойти пешком минут за 15.
Written 1 August 2019
Луиза К
Ulyanovsk, Russia
Здравствуйте, хотела узнать как автобусной станции добраться до Виа Этна.
Written 1 August 2019
Si...soprattutto quelli che vendono alimentari (bar, pub, gelaterie, ecc.), ma anche le grandi catene e grif commerciali.
Written 10 October 2018
Do you know a safe parking when visiting via Entea?
Written 22 September 2018
Look for the large blue “P” signs which indicate a garage or a parking lot. Most are located off of side streets. I would suggest you use google maps to find one, which is what we did. We went off Corso Italia to locate one, then walked to Via Etnea.
Written 24 September 2018
I negozi di via etnea saranno aperti il primo gennaio capodanno ? Grazzie
Written 26 September 2017
Non sono sicura se saranno aperti pero di no.
Written 27 September 2017
Bonjour
je souhaiterai retirer une publication faite sur VIA ETNEA. je me suis aperçu que je me suis trompé et qu'elle ne correspond pas à l'hotel ciblé.
merci de bien vouloir m'indiquer les démarches pour corriger mon erreur.
Cordialement,
Written 10 April 2017
No parking allowed along via Etnea. There are some parking areas on the nearby streets.
Written 12 July 2016
does Alibus leave from Piazza Stesicoro Catania to go to Piazza Centrale (Trenitalia) as I need to get the train to Salerno from there. Please advise
Written 2 March 2016
Does anyone know if ALIBUS from Piazza Stesicoro, Catania goes directly to the train Station Piazza Papa Giovanni XX111, I would need to get the bus to the Catania Centrale as I have purchased an on line ticket with Trenitalia to Salerno. I don't want to get a taxi. I am sure the must be but I cannot find which number of Alibus it is on the AMT website.
Written 2 March 2016
Showing results 1-10 of 10
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing