La Pescheria

Catania's fish market: colour and tradition

A few steps below Piazza del Duomo, the Pescheria is Catania's centuries-old fish market and one of the most authentic experiences in the city. Every morning the lanes behind the Fontana dell'Amenano fill with fishmongers calling out their catch — swordfish, tuna, sea urchins, mussels and prawns — in a noisy, colourful choreography that is pure Sicily.

Around the fish stalls you will find greengrocers, butchers and tiny eateries serving very fresh seafood and street food. Come early to see it at its liveliest — it winds down by lunchtime and is quieter on Sundays. It is an unmissable, free stop that pairs perfectly with the Cathedral, Via Etnea and the baroque squares nearby.