Palermo is Arab-Norman chaos. Catania is volcanic Baroque order. (Relatively.)
Plan your trip →Sicily’s capital. 670,000 people. Street food capital. Cappella Palatina, Catacombs, Ballarò market. Messy, magnificent, confrontational. Gateway to western Sicily.
Second city. 300,000. Built on lava, destroyed 7 times. La Pescheria, Via Etnea, granita+brioche. More compact, slightly more organized. Gateway to Etna, Taormina, Syracuse.
Palermo: panelle, arancine, pani ca meusa — street food king. Catania: arancini, granita, pesce — market king. Palermo’s street food is better; Catania’s fish market is better.
Palermo first if you love chaos and street food. Catania first if you want Etna+Taormina+Syracuse access. Best: do both in a Sicily round trip.