Catania

Catania, Italy

Charismatic seaside Catania is a young, dynamic soul, inhabiting a body of narrow alleys and ornate Baroque buildings mounted on top of well-preserved remains of ancient Greek and Roman settlements. Mount Etna defines the cityscape both in terms of the striking panorama and building material - Catania is even referred to as the "grey city" for the colour of lava rocks used to construct many of its buildings.

Population:

311,584

Currency:

1 Euro = 100 cents

Emergency Numbers:

Police: 112
Fire Brigade: 115
Ambulance: 118
Coast Guard: 1530

Opening Hours:

Shops are open Monday-Friday 8.30 am - 1 pm and 3.30 pm - 7 pm (some stores open at 9 am and close at 8 pm); a few of them stay open also on Saturdays. Some supermarkets stay open 24/7.

Newspapers:

La Gazzetta di Catania
La Sicilia
Cataniaoggi

The City

Catania is one of Sicily’s nine provinces. It is bordered by Taormina to the north, Augusta to the south, Bronte, Adrano, and Misterbianco to the west, and the Ionian Sea in the east. The provincial capital of Catania was founded at the base of the volcano Etna in 729. It was one of the first Greek colonies on the island.

Like other Sicilian cities, it has been heavily influenced by its rulers – Romans, Arabs, and Normans to name a few. The largest impact came from its neighbour, the volcano Etna – when it erupted in 1669 it devastated the city and killed 12,000 inhabitants. Catania was rebuilt in the Baroque style preserved to this day, complete with large boulevards and squares.

Over the last few years, tourism has become one of the biggest sources of revenue. With the sixth largest airport in Italy, Catania is a natural hub for tourists travelling to the island’s east coast. It is easy to take day trips from here to the spectacular Mount Etna, to the ceramics centre of Caltagirone, and to the picturesque mountain villages like Randozza and Linguaglossa. There is also Sicily’s most glamorous tourist town, the Roman city of Taormina with its medieval city centre, where D.H. Lawrence wrote "Lady Chatterley’s Lover."

Do & See

Catania boasts a plethora of incredible cultural sights. Pay a visit to Piazza del Duomo, marvel at the splendid Catania Cathedral, and walk down the historic Via dei Crociferi (named a UNESCO World Heritage Site). Catania's location by the warm sea makes it a perfect destination for holiday-makers, and hiking trips can be made to the (still active) Etna volcano. In the vicinity, small towns such as the beautiful Taormina or Caltagirone make for ideal day-trip destinations.

Dining

The cuisine in the Catania region is just like in the rest of Sicily – a delectable combination of Italian and Mediterranean cooking. Fish and seafood are the dominant ingredients, complemented by olive oil and wine from the mountains around Etna. One unusual ingredient that has made its way into a variety of dishes and condiments is the local pistachio (the ultimate Catanese pizza is one topped with cream cheese and grated pistachios). In the pasta department, try the local speciality Pasta alla Norma – a pasta dish cooked with aubergines, tomatoes, ricotta cheese and basil.

Cafes

Italian coffee doesn't need a special introduction, and the variety of local sweets and pastries is truly mind-boggling - many an establishment in Catania serve mouthwatering Italian delights, from cream-stuffed cannoli to chocolate-filled croissants, and other alluring treats, notably granita, which is a semi-frozen dessert. In the savoury department, Sicily is known for its juicy arancini (stuffed rice balls, coated with bread crumbs and then deep-fried. They are usually filled with ragù, mozzarella, and peas).