Looking for the best souvenirs to buy in Catania, Sicily?
When you visit this vibrant city, picking up a few local finds for your loved ones is a great idea. It’s a simple way to remember your trip and share a bit of Catania with family and friends.
Bringing home souvenirs from your trip helps you hold on to the experience in a real, lasting way. Pictures are cool, but having something you can touch or use – like a small craft, a food item, or a piece of local art – makes the memories feel more personal and vivid even after you’re back home.
Souvenirs also connect you to the place and its culture. Choosing something local means you’re supporting small businesses and taking home a piece of the destination’s identity. Even simple items can carry a story, reminding you of where you went, what you saw, and how it felt to be there.
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In this post, we’ve put together a list of the best Catania souvenirs to bring home. Keep scrolling!
7 Best Souvenirs from Catania, Sicily
Heading home from your trip and looking for interesting souvenirs to bring back from Catania? Here’s our carefully chosen list of the best finds you shouldn’t miss.
1. Etna wines
Etna wines are local red and white wines made in the volcanic soil of Mt. Etna. This winemaking tradition dates back to c. 7th century BC and the province of Catania was one of the first agricultural areas in Sicily that cultivated grapes for these particular wines. Today, you can purchase Etna wines in Catania’s local shops like Nelson Sicily to bring home to your loved ones.
Etna wines owe their freshness and vibrant flavors to the volcanic soils. Choose Etna read like Nerello Mascalese or Nerello Cappuccio for cherry-and-herb profiles with a subtle smoky edge. For light, crisp, slightly saline whites, pick Carricante or other Etna whites like Inzolia, Fiano, Grecanico, or Zibibbo.
2. Modica chocolate
Modica chocolate is a unique Sicilian treat made using an old “cold-worked” method. The sugar isn’t fully melted, so the chocolate keeps a slightly grainy, crumbly texture that’s very different from smooth chocolate bars.
Modica chocolate has been around since the 1500s, when the Spanish brought ancient Aztec cocoa-making techniques to Sicily. The Aztecs made a thick, bitter cocoa paste, and while the Spanish added sugar, they didn’t refine it, which is why the chocolate still has that distinct texture today.
It’s named after the town of Modica (around 126 km. southwest of Catania), where this method has been carefully kept alive for centuries. Even today, to be called “Cioccolato di Modica,” it has to be made there using the same traditional process, which makes it feel a bit more special when you try it.
Modica chocolate is also considered a healthier option, since the low-temperature process helps preserve more antioxidants. Your loved ones back home will definitely appreciate this one. Go pick some up at Chocofusion Lindt before you leave Catania!
3. Bronte pistachio products
Known as Sicily’s “green gold,” pistachios from nearby Bronte grow in rich volcanic soil, giving them their deep green color and naturally sweet, aromatic flavor. In the local dialect, pistachio is called “frastuca,” and the town celebrates it with the annual Sagra del Pistacchio, where generations of families come together to mark the harvest.
The pistachio plant (Pistacia vera) originally comes from ancient Persia and was brought to Sicily by the Arabs between the 9th and 11th centuries. Today, “Pistacchio Verde di Bronte” has PDO status, meaning only pistachios grown in Bronte and nearby areas can carry the name. Much of the harvesting is still done by hand because the rugged lava terrain makes machinery hard to use.
You’ll see Bronte pistachios in all kinds of treats perfect for taking home, from creamy pistachio spreads and pesto to nougat, brittle, panettone, and chocolate.
Looking for Bronte pistachio products in Catania? Try Agathae – Prodotti Tipici Siciliani, Cristaldi International Food Store, or Pasticceria Savia for a great selection.
4. Almond pastries (Pasta di mandorle)
Almond pastries from Catania are irresistible gift-worthy treats. Sicilian baking sparkles with almonds and marzipan; in Catania you’ll spot delectable frutta martorana, buttery ricotta-and-almond cookies, cassata– and cannoli-style sweets with almondy twists, and plenty of pasticcerie (pastry shops) using pasta di mandorla (almond paste) in cakes and tarts.
Almonds arrived in Sicily long ago via Greek and Roman trade, but it was the Arab rulers (9th–11th centuries) who brought sugar and confectionery know-how that let almond-based sweets take off. Add in the prized almonds from the Val di Noto, resourceful convent kitchens, and Spanish/Baroque pastry flair, and you get the playful, beloved almond specialties Sicilians adore today.
Signature treats include Frutta Martorana – brightly colored, hand-shaped marzipan fruits tied to convent traditions and popular at All Saints/All Souls and Easter – and pasta di mandorla (pasta reale), a silky almond paste used for cakes, tarts, and pretty decorations.
You’ll also find almond biscuits, biscotti, and chewy torrone, almond creams in cassata and cannoli variations, and refreshing almond-flavored granitas, syrups, and liqueurs.
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Here are the top pasticcerie in Catania known for almond pastries:
• Pasticceria Savia on Via Etnea: popular for cannoli and marzipan
• Pasticceria Ficarra Luigi on Via Umberto I: famous for granita and pastries
• Pasticceria Verona & Bonvegna on Via Asiago: praised for cakes and pastries
• Pasticceria Spinella on Via Etnea: known for arancini and cannoli
• Pasticceria Quaranta on Piazza Mancini Battaglia: offering a wide pastry selection including almond items
• Panificio San Placido on Via Vittorio Emanuele II: recommended for cannoli and baked goods
• Pasticceria Privitera on Piazza Santa Maria di Gesù: noted for granita and traditional pastries
5. Lava stone jewelry
Lava stone jewelry from Mount Etna is one of the most unique Catania souvenirs you can find. Made from real volcanic rock, each piece carries a strong connection to the island’s landscape and history, like wearing a small piece of Etna with you.
Most pieces are handcrafted by local artisans, often paired with silver or coral, giving them a distinct Sicilian look. The dark, textured stone stands out, and buying one also supports small workshops and traditional craft skills that have been passed down over time.
They’re durable, easy to wear, and come in a wide range of styles and prices, so it’s easy to find something that fits. Some even see lava stone as grounding or symbolic, making it more than just a souvenir, but something with a bit of meaning behind it.
Looking to buy lava stone jewelry in Catania? Try Mizzica on Via Giuseppe Garibaldi. They have eye-catching pieces you’ll want to wear and bring home for your loved ones.
6. Caltagirone ceramics
There’s a town located over an hour from Catania that’s famous for ceramics. This town is called Caltagirone, which means “fortress of the vases” (Arabic qala’at al-ʿiran). It has been making bright majolica ceramics (deep blue, sunny yellow; floral motifs and Moor’s heads) since antiquity.
The best example of Caltagirone ceramics would be the 142‑step, tile‑decorated Staircase of Santa Maria del Monte. Today, most pieces are still handmade and hand-painted by local artisans, keeping centuries-old skills alive.
You’ll find everything from small tiles and cups to larger vases and decorative pieces, making it easy to pick something that suits your style and luggage space.
7. Coppola hat
The coppola is that classic flat cap you’ll see all over Sicily, and it’s one of those souvenirs you can actually wear back home. The name comes from old dialect roots linked to “head covering,” and over time it became the word for this iconic rounded cap worn across southern Italy.
Traditionally made from wool or tweed, with lighter cotton or linen versions for summer, the coppola has a soft, rounded shape with a short brim. It’s simple, practical, and has that easy, timeless look that never really goes out of style.
You’ll see them in markets and small shops all around Catania, often in local patterns or fabrics. They’re lightweight, easy to pack, and instantly recognizable, which makes them a fun and wearable reminder of your trip.