Catania Evening Food Tour

The Catania Evening Food Tour is a three-hour guided walk and tasting in the historic centre of Catania, in eastern Sicily, operated by The Tour Guy, a company that runs food and sightseeing tours in a number of Italian and European cities. The tour meets in Piazza del Duomo, by the main door of the Palazzo dei Chierici, 95131 Catania, and finishes in Piazza Cutelli. Pricing starts from USD 87 (about EUR 75.65) per person. The route passes through the heart of the baroque city and covers La Pescheria, the fish and produce market behind the cathedral square, and the Civita district, one of the older residential quarters of the city. Along the way, the tour includes eight tastings, which the operator lists as pistachio arancini, Catanese horse-meat barbecue, crispelle and granita on Via dei Crociferi, and a seasonal dessert. Three Sicilian drinks are also included in the price. The horse-meat grill is a long-standing local specialty found in Catania's traditional grill houses, and it is a defining feature of this tour; visitors who do not eat horse meat should raise this when booking. The balance is mostly savoury, with granita and a seasonal dessert as the sweet elements. The guide speaks English, and the group size is capped at 12 guests, which keeps the evening paced and conversational. The guide gives background on Catania's history, including the rebuilding of the city after the 1693 earthquake, the role of Mount Etna's lava stone in local architecture, and the origins of dishes in Sicilian peasant cooking. Because the tour runs in the evening, it combines a meal-sized tasting with the atmosphere of the lit baroque streets, and it can replace dinner for most participants. The operator page lists the tour as running year-round, subject to availability. Visitors with dietary restrictions should contact The Tour Guy before booking, as grill, fried and cheese-based dishes make up much of the menu.