As the Christmas holidays approach, people start thinking about where to go to spend joyful hours with family, friends, or their partner. Consequently, various national or foreign locations are considered for a short winter holiday. Some prefer international destinations, often exotic, for a unique Christmas experience. Others, however, maintain the traditions of this holiday, spending the festive season with family in their native land. In this focus, we try to propose a destination belonging to the second mentioned category: the conservative and traditional. We are talking about Catania, a Sicilian location, where every year interesting events and Christmas markets are organized. Let’s see together how to get to this place and what the mentioned Christmas-themed events consist of.
Christmas in Catania
When choosing Sicily, and particularly Catania, as a preferred destination for spending Christmas, one cannot ignore certain elements that distinguish this southern location, often more noted for its beaches than as a winter holiday destination. This is different, of course, for those who reside there, as it goes without saying that the desire to be with family in their native land outweighs everything else. For those coming from outside the region or even from abroad, Catania would represent something new, especially as a Christmas venue. A context in stark contrast to the general connotation of our island destinations.
Not only Catania, but also other Sicilian or Sardinian cities are almost always considered for maritime periods and certainly not for Christmas; therefore, in this focus, we try to bring out an unexplored and little-known part of Catania Christmas Edition.
Via Etnea and the Catania Light Displays
One of the main attractions in Catania during the Christmas season is definitely Via Etnea and its wonderful light displays. An incredible sight due to the extent of the setup of these lights that warmly decorate the alleys and streets adjacent to the aforementioned area with warm hues. A Sicilian city that thus changes its beach resort nature to transform into a decidedly interesting winter destination. Then, of course, there are the markets that capture the remaining attention and steal the scene as another important event of the Christmas period. Stalls adorned with all sorts of thematic items, local traditional delicacies, and accessories or decorations for home trees and nativity scenes.
The Christmas Markets in Catania
So we come to the heart of the theme of this in-depth look at Catania in its Christmas flavor: its markets. As anticipated in the previous paragraph, it is a setup of stalls (which conform to what their presence is like in other Italian regions) that embodies a must of this eagerly awaited holiday by both adults and children. A huge array of stands where one can see and buy Catania’s winter delicacies, festive decorations to enrich the nativity scene or tree set up in the home; not to mention the really endless accessories that year after year surprise with their originality. The city’s historic center thus welcomes the multitude of people coming from neighboring areas of the island or from outside the region or country (as in the case of tourists). For over a month, from late November to late December (sometimes even until Epiphany), the Christmas markets of Catania, along with other events planned and organized by the local municipal administration, delight those who want to come to the area to enjoy a unique immersion in the Sicilian context of reference.
How to get to Catania for the Christmas Markets
Now let’s tackle a not insignificant detail when it comes to enjoying a festive event: namely, how to get to the destination. In the case of the Christmas markets, as mentioned, they are organized in the city’s historic center starting from Via Etnea. Adjacent streets such as Corso Sicilia, Via Montesano, Minoriti, Pacini, and squares such as Università and Mazzini, are all must-see stops to view these festively decorated stalls. From 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. and beyond, the Catania Christmas markets are open to the public, offering a varied array as mentioned and described above.
Arriving at the aforementioned location is closely related to the means of transportation used. If opting for car travel, then the highway network and the subsequent ferry are mandatory. It’s different for air travel (especially if coming from abroad) or arriving by bus. In these two cases, the geographic point of interest will be the Catania airport, and from there, the taxi service or NCC (car rental with driver) which start from the Sicilian airport and transport you to your destination safely and quickly.
Taxi and NCC service to reach catania at Christmas
As a result of what has been said so far, arriving in Catania to see the markets or the Christmas village means, especially if you don’t reside locally, getting in a car, bus, or plane for a journey that leads to the destination in question. Often, however, another public service is overlooked, although it’s not a regular line, which is very convenient for such a journey: the NCC in Catania, or car rental with a driver. This luxurious and comfortable mode of transport is ideal for enjoying a relaxing and stress-free journey as required by a festive period like Christmas. Therefore, using such a mode of transport means avoiding any problems with timings, tickets, and so forth since it is bookable in advance, precise in its service, and luxurious, focusing on the use of high-end vehicles (Vans, sedans, supercars). In short, it’s a highly valid alternative to traditional, often controversial, transportation, which in a festive period like the one mentioned, is useful to avoid delays, stress, and a thousand other related problems. A way to arrive in Catania in this case, and experience the local Christmas magic with markets, Christmas Village, and the light displays of Via Etnea and the historic center.
