Catania in ten riddles, from the amphitheatre to the ancient theatre
The Catania scavenger hunt is a self-guided city game you play on your phone: you walk from landmark to landmark, solve a riddle at each one by looking closely at what is in front of you, and unlock the stories and legends behind it. Ten stops, 2.5 km and only about 34 minutes of actual walking separate the amphitheatre from the Greek-Roman Theatre; the rest of the roughly 2 hours goes on riddles and stories, and the clock only starts when you open the first one.
Highlights include the Roman Amphitheatre, Via Etnea with its view of the volcano, the Teatro Massimo Bellini, the Cathedral of Sant'Agata, the lava-stone Elephant Fountain and Castello Ursino. Catania's Baroque centre was rebuilt after the earthquake of 1693 in dark lava stone, so on foot you see how Etna has shaped the city from Roman times to today.
- Durationabout 2 hours
- Walkingabout 34 min · 2.5 km
- Stops10
- LanguagesEnglish, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Dutch
Lava stone, legends and an elephant to work out
Clues in black and white stone
Catania was rebuilt in dark lava and pale limestone, and the riddles make you read that contrast: an inscription on a Baroque façade, a detail on a bronze lamp post, the obelisk on the Elephant's back. You only need to look carefully and think; nobody checks whether you know your Sicilian history.
Sorcerers, saints and a composer
Each answer unlocks a story: Heliodorus, the sorcerer said to have ridden the lava elephant, Saint Agatha, the city's patron, and Vincenzo Bellini, born here in 1801 and buried in the cathedral. Turn on the audio narration and let it tell you about Colapesce while you stand under the lamp posts of Piazza Università.
Downhill along Via Etnea
Google Maps leads you over 2.5 km, about 34 minutes of walking, mostly down the long straight line of Via Etnea and then through the old streets around the cathedral and the castle. On a clear day, turn round on Via Etnea and you see Mount Etna rising at the far end.
A granita whenever you like
There is no timer, so stop for a granita, an espresso or something from a pastry shop on Via Etnea whenever you feel like it. Close the app and you carry on later, or tomorrow, from the very stop where you paused.
See the route and attractions →
How it works
- Book online Choose the number of players. Your booking reference arrives by email straight away.
- Get the app Download the World City Trail app from the App Store or Google Play and enter your booking reference.
- Play when you like Start whenever you are ready, walk at your own pace and pause any time. No guide, no fixed schedule.
Cruise passengers, Sicily holidaymakers and groups in Catania
A few hours ashore
In about 2 hours you see the Roman remains, the main street, the opera house, the cathedral and the castle, which fits neatly into a port call or a first afternoon before heading up Etna or over to Taormina. The riddles turn a busy centre into a series of clear stops.
Kids who love elephants and volcano tales
Children are drawn to the lava elephant with its obelisk, the legends cast in bronze on the lamp posts and a castle that once stood on the shore until lava pushed the sea away. Every team needs an adult, and the distance is short, though summer heat calls for breaks in the shade.
Teams, classes and friends travelling together
Teams of up to 5 players each follow the riddles on their own phones, so a company, a school group or a large family can start several teams from Piazza Stesicoro a few minutes apart. The route uses public streets and squares only, so the game tickets are all you book.
Good to know
- Bring a charged smartphone with mobile data; a power bank helps.
- No entry tickets needed: everything happens outside the buildings. Going inside is optional and paid separately.
- Family friendly; children must be accompanied by an adult.
- Not suitable for wheelchair users and difficult with strollers.
- Teams of up to 5 work best; bigger groups split into several teams, one ticket per player.
- Every purchase helps support stray cats and dogs in Greece.
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.