Every morning, a dive into the folklore of the Piscaria
Catania Fish Market
A few minutes' walk from Palazzo Sangiorgio,
the most folkloric place in the city, where you can savour fresh typical products
The Catania Fish Market is one of the places richest in authentic Sicilian culture. Many cities in Sicily offer market experiences that go beyond the mere purchase of the products on display.
The centuries-old market of Catania is a vivid example of this, an unmissable folkloric stop for tourists staying in the city, as well as for locals who come to buy fresh fish, meat, vegetables, and local fruits from their trusted vendors.
“A’ piscaria” of Catania, as the locals call it, is easily reachable with a few minutes' walk from Palazzo Sangiorgio, passing by the Cathedral and Piazza del Duomo through the Baroque streets of the historic centre.
The market, which once took place in Piazza Mazzini, now mostly extends outdoors, within the perimeter of Piazza Alonzo di Benedetto, whose entrance is marked by the ancient Porta Uzeda. The choice to locate the market in this area is not random: in the past, just 400 metres from the old square, near the Archi della Marina, the sea touched the city.
From the Fontana dell’Amenano, called "dell’acqua a linzolu" by the locals, continuing through a tunnel under the Palazzo Seminario dei Chierici and passing through Porta Carlo V which protected the city, the ancient area of Catania fills with colours, sounds, and distinctive smells that tell of a centuries-old tradition that repeats tirelessly every morning, except Sunday, from 7:00 to 14:00.
The “abbanniate”
Tradition, folklore, and identity of Catania’s city market
Among the stalls laden with swordfish, sea urchins, octopus, and anchovies, you might spot some fishmongers weighing the day's catch on old analog scales or recounting ancient sea anecdotes, signs of something more than a profession: an art passed down from generation to generation.
In this timeless space, it's easy to be enchanted by the fishmongers’ “abbanniate”, extolling the freshness of their products to attract customers, and by the flavours of typical dishes that can be sampled in one of the many trattorias surrounding the market. An immersion in the history and customs of a city that has changed many times over the years, but here still preserves the most authentic memory of its past.