1473 Best Sights in Italy

Closed to traffic but always buzzing with crowds, this piazza has at its heart an elephant carved out of lava, balancing an Egyptian obelisk. This is the city's informal mascot, called "U Liotru" in Sicilian dialect. The square also marks the entrance to Catania's famous pescheria (fish market) and is one of the few points in the city where you can see the Amenano River above ground. Another point of interest is Via Garibaldi, which runs from Piazza del Duomo up toward the impressively huge Porta Garibaldi, a black-and-white triumphal arch built in 1768 to commemorate the marriage of Ferdinando I.

Excellent views of Cagliari, plus a selection of cafés and late-night bars make this a good place for a break after visiting the narrow passageways of the Castello quarter. The spacious terrazza lies atop the monumental, Neoclassical Bastione di Saint Remy, dating from 1901.

The gorgeous 18th-century Villa Faraggiana, near the parish church, has exhibits on the history of pottery and hosts an array of events from concerts to weddings.