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Info Sicily - Catania Nearest airport: Catania
Population: 295.591
Demonym: catanesi
Patron Saint: Sant' Agata
Location: coast
Holidays in Sicily

If you wish to visit Sicily, visiting Catania too, ask for a free and tailored quotation.



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ask for a free quotation Hotels in Catania centre▪ Hotel Il Principe 4*
▪ UNA Palace Hotel 4*
▪ NH Parco degli Aragonesi 4*
▪ Romano House Hotel 4*
▪ Hotel Manganelli Palace 3*
▪ Hotel Borgo Verde 3*

Hotels near Catania▪ Grand Hotel Baia Verde 4*
▪ Santa Tecla Palace Hotel 4*
▪ Hotel Etna Golf & Resort 4*S.
▪ Resort DonnaCarmela 4*
▪ Azienda Tenuta San Michele Sicily main localities Caltagirone
Taormina
Catania
Syracuse
Modica
Agrigento
Erice
Palermo
Enna P.zza Armerina
Giardini Naxos
Acireale
Ragusa
Noto
Sciacca
Mazara
Cefalù
Leonforte

Catania gallery CATANIA History Catania was founded in 729 BC, by Greeks from Calcide Eubea. The history of the city has been conditioned by a succession of foreign dominations, giving to the city its own unique artistic, architectural and cultural heritage. The name Catania derives from the ancient Sicilian term Katane, that means "flaying knife, grater" because the city rises over a bristling lava stone land. Catania is the most lively city of Sicily, here the first Sicilian University, called "Siculorum Gymnasium" was founded under the Aragonese dynasty in 1434. Catania is the capital of its province and it is dominated by the imposing volcano Etna. Catania has been destroyed nine times and it has always been re-built, we can compare such cyclicity of sudden ruinations and consequent rebirths, to the legend of the mythical Phoenix "Melior de cinere surgo" that means I Arise Better My From Ashes. This Latin motto of Catania is readable on the marble tags set on the baroque prospect of the monumental Triumphal Arch of Piazza Palestro whose name is "Porta Garibaldi" (Garibaldi Gate) but also "Porta Ferdinandea" (Ferdinandean Gate ). Its baroque monuments were declared Unesco world heritage in 2002, like other seven sites of the Valley of Noto like as Caltagirone, Militello Val di Catania, Modica, Noto, Palazzolo acreide, Ragusa and Scicli.

Places to visit The central via Etnea is the hearth of the city. It crosses Catania from north to south, starting from Piazza del Duomo, arriving, about 3 km far away, to the Tondo Gioieni. From here, looking the north long the street you can see the Volcano Etna. The most remarkable monuments of Catania are: the Cathedral, built as a fortified church during the Norman period, where there is the monument and tomb of the famous musician Vincenzo Bellini. The roman amphitheatre, smaller than the Colosseum in Rome. The symbol of Catania is a lava stone elephant settled in the middle of the Piazza Duomo. The 18 century via Crociferi, with its baroques churches of Sant Giuliano, San Benedetto, the church of the Jesuits or the one dedicated to San Francesco Borgia and the arch of the Benedictine order of nuns. The monastery of San Nicola with its homonymous church, the biggest one in Sicily. The Roman theatre and the Odeon. The Ursino Castle built by Federico the II. The museum of Vincenzo Bellini, that is located into the Bellini birth-house, in piazza San Francesco in front of the church of San Francesco, where is the tomb of Eleonora d'Angiò, Federico III’ wife. The scenic street of Via Etnea. Piazza Stesicoro with the monument dedicated to Vincenzo Bellini and the entrance of the Roman amphitheatre. The Theatre “Vincenzo Bellini”, a real jewel, for its perfect acoustics One of the most characteristic place in Catania is the popular fish market where different colours, sounds and perfumes meet. Another particular spot of the city is the market place in Piazza Carlo Alberto, well known as “a Fera o Luni” , “Monday market” because initially the market was just on Mondays. Now, the market is everyday. Every Sunday morning the market hosts the antiques trade market.

Events, Festivals and Gastronomy Catania is the most lively city in Sicily. It has a lively night life with plenty of amusements and entertainments. We can talk about a real “movida” concentrated in the very historical centre, between Piazza Duomo, Piazza Università and Piazza Teatro Massimo. The gastronomy of the area is the richest and tastiest of the island. The most representative dishes are Pasta alla norma, with sauce and fried aubergines with typical salted ricotta cheese, the Parmiggiana ( aubergine pie with fried aubergines). The Caponata with tomatoes and aubergines, fennel salad, oranges salad (cut in pieces and dressed with oil, salt and pepper), fried aubergines and courgettes, onions baked in the oven, broccoli and typical violet cauliflowers of the Etna region. Other local specialities are pizzas and “scacciate”. Another attraction is the typical soft-drink kiosk, where refreshing drinks are served, all year. The most requested drink is the seltz, with lemon and salt, a simple mixture for a very refreshing drink, like also the mandarinetto al limone, mandarin syrup and fresh lemon juice. In summertime, you cannot miss to taste the typical breakfast with granite and brioche. There are several flavours, the most classical ones: lemon, coffee, chocolate and almonds. More other famous sweets: The typical cannolo, cassata and the marzipan fruits.