The beautiful Baroque city of Catania, with a population of 500,000 inhabitants, lies nestled at the foot of Mount Etna on Sicily’s east coast. Shaped by Mount Etna’s eruptions and changes in volcanic activity (characteristic of the Ionian coastline), Catania is also known as the Elephant City, for the lava-stone elephant in the heart of the famous Piazza Duomo.
It also happens to be the place I was born and raised, and has watched me change and grow over the years. I lived there as a young girl, as a teenager, a young woman, and now as a mum of three. Over the years, I have discovered new places that are perfect for my little explorers and family-friendly activities in the city, including museums, parks, and adventure parks very close to the city centre.
Catania with children: museums and activities
I must admit that Catania does not offer a huge amount of children’s activities and is not always ideal for families. However, here are some ideas that you might like, even on those rainy, autumn days.
Sicily Landing Museum
Visit the Sicily Landing Museum – 1943 (Museo dello Sbarco in Sicilia), located in the Catania trade centre (Le Ciminiere), and find out what took place between 10 July and 8 September 1943 when the Allies famously landed in Sicily. They have a realistic reconstruction of a 1940s town square, replicas of air-raid shelters, canons, tanks, historical uniforms, and many contemporary testimonies.
- Recommended age: 5 years +
- Address: Viale Africa – Centro fieristico “Le Ciminiere” – Catania
- For more information: visit the website Ministero della Cultura
Zoology Museum
The Catania Zoology Museum hosts a huge exhibition on Southern hemisphere mammals and birds, as well as tigers, lions, leopards, and mountain lions. There are also reptiles, primate, and hominid exhibits, and information and multimedia points and nature and wildlife documentary screenings. No barrier or glass partitions separate you from the specimens here, which are systematically categorised according to their zoological and geographical profiles.
- Recommended age: 3 years +
- Address: via Androne 81, Catania
- For more information: website of Museo di Zoologia
Fratelli Napoli Puppetry Museum
Puppetry takes centre stage in Silicy´s historical and cultural heritage. The Napoli brothers’ shop is in the historic centre of Catania, near Ursino Castle and the fish market. Here, see how the art of puppetry is passed down generations and a vast display of Sicilian puppets. This is an unmissable experience for children that transports them to the fantastical world of puppets and storytelling.
- Recommended age: 2 years +
- Address: Via Reitano 55, Catania
- For more information: Museo e Teatro dei Pupi Fratelli Napoli
A walk in Villa Bellini
The Bellini Garden (Villa Bellini) lies at the heart of Catania, the historic centre along the famous via Etnea. It’s a place where children can run and play under the huge ficus and eucalyptus trees.
Continue through the garden and up the path to Piazza Roma, to a playground (it’s not well maintained, being honest, but it’s there). For those with a sweet tooth, and we all know that children have it, I recommend stopping at Bar Savia e Spinella to try a delicious brioche-topped ice cream, slushy, or an arancino, if you’d rather something savoury.
- Recommended age: all ages
- Address: Via Etnea 292, Catania
- For more information: Giardino Bellini – Around Catania
Butterfly House – Viagrande (Catania)
In the Catania province, discover a magical place in the Monte Serra forest home to tropical butterflies that flutter freely around you. This is Casa della Farfalle, the Butterfly house, a large aviary where extraordinary, colourful, tropical butterflies and interesting insects live. You can also join an educational tour.
Located in the Monte Serra Park, it’s the perfect place for a Sunday picnic. There’s also a large playground and picnic area.
- Recommended age: all ages
- Address: Via Dietro Serra, 6, 95029 Viagrande – Catania
- For more information: Casa delle Farfalle
Trips to Mount Etna
Going to Catania and not seeing Mount Etna is like going to Paris and not seeing the Eiffel Tower.
A family trip to Mount Etna is a fantastic experience, either on your own or as part of a guided tour aimed at little explorers. There are so many ways to explore the volcano, from North to South or East to West. If you enter via Catania, I recommend exploring the South side. You would start at Nicolosi as it has easy access to the volcano, hence its nickname: ‘the gateway to Mount Etna’.
If you start from Sapienza refuge, you can visit the 1900-metre Silvestri crater, and then take the cable car and jeep to the highest level allowed (currently 2700 metres). Trips to Mount Etna run in the summer and, weather permitting, also in winter. Be sure to wear weather-appropriate clothes on the day.
- Recommended age: all ages
- For more information: Guided tours to Mount Etna with children
You can do these activities all year round. Just check the opening hours and the entry and booking requirements. I hope that you find this information useful for your family holidays in Catania. Now all that is left to do is book a flight with Volotea and discover the Elephant City!
