Catania

Catania is a city on the eastern coast of Sicily at the foot of Mount Etna, the biggest volcano in Europe. It is the second largest city in Sicily with the metropolitan area reaching one million inhabitants, a major transport hub, economic centre and a university city where you will enjoy a busy downtown and an active nightlife. Catania is also well known for its particular baroque architecture and urban design (the downtown area is a World Heritage Site, along with all the Val di Noto area), consequences of the great earthquake of 1693 after which the city had to be rebuilt, like most of eastern Sicily.

The city has a history dating back 2,700 years, dominated by several different cultures (Greeks, Romans, Arabs, Normans, Spanish, etc.) and was a rich commercial centre, mainly due to its port. Again, since the 1970s, the city economy is growing as the urban area and the suburbs, making Catania a large metropolitan centre, mainly between the volcano and the sea. Today, even if you can find there most of the biggest commercial centers in Europe (especially Etnapolis), the 17th-century downtown area is still the center of the day-to-day life.

Catania sits under the most major active volcano in Europe and has been destroyed many times in the past. As a result, Catania is a city where you can find a great variety of landscape and architecture, a lot of dirty buildings and also a lot of abandoned houses, especially in the mountains. However, since the city is a World Heritage Site, a lot of renovations have been made.

Today, you will feel in Catania a mix of nostalgia and joie de vivre, especially at night or during festivals.

The major feature of this city is its architecture, which is predominantly baroque.

The major characteristic of Baroque architectural is its theatricality. This style dominated Europe in the 17th century as a result of the reformation/counter-reformation where the statement given was one of grandeur. The preceding style was Renaissance, while the succeeding was Neoclassicism. The three major features are a near excessive amount of detail (statues, lots of gold, columns and pilasters, garlands and wreaths etc.), façades which are taller than the nave (to fool the viewer of the size) and frescoes often featuring trompe-l'œil.

Baroque from Catania has several unique features such as use of dark lava stone (basalt), the Bell in the façade itself and grotesque masks and putti.

• Bureau Turismo, via Vittorio Emanuele II, 172, +39 095 742 55 73. M-Sa 08:00-19:15, Su 08:30-13:30. The Tourist Bureau of the city.
• Info point of the province of Catania at the via Etnea.
• Catania Pass. The city of Catania promotes a tourist bundle which combines a transport pass for the city with some discounts to a handful of the city's museums. See yourself if you need one of them: Museo Civico "Castello Ursino", Museo Belliniano, Museo Emilio Greco, Museo Diocesano and Terme Achilliane are free, plus Monastero dei Benedettini is €4 instead of €7. Personal: 24 hr €12.50, 72 hr €16.50, 120 hr (5 days) €20.00.

Bureau Turismo, via Vittorio Emanuele II, 172, +39 095 742 55 73. M-Sa 08:00-19:15, Su 08:30-13:30. The Tourist Bureau of the city.

[[Catania (province)#Tourist information|Info point]] of the province of Catania at the via Etnea.

Catania Pass. The city of Catania promotes a tourist bundle which combines a transport pass for the city with some discounts to a handful of the city's museums. See yourself if you need one of them: Museo Civico "Castello Ursino", Museo Belliniano, Museo Emilio Greco, Museo Diocesano and Terme Achilliane are free, plus Monastero dei Benedettini is €4 instead of €7. Personal: 24 hr €12.50, 72 hr €16.50, 120 hr (5 days) €20.00.

Sicilian used to be the common language here for centuries, as the Sicilian culture is isolated on an island. Even in Catania, you will notice Italian and Sicilian (as Palermo, Catania has its own dialect) in some neighborhoods, especially in inner areas, while most people speak mainly Italian in the city center.

• Piazza del Duomo. An attractive, lively baroque square. Here you can find the Fontana dell'Elefante (Elephant Fountain) or U Liotru - the symbol of the city. There are three buildings here that are World Heritage Sites. The square is also an entrance to the elegant via Etnea, the main shopping street.

  * Cattedrale di Sant'Agata, Piazza del Duomo. M-Sa 07:00-12:00, 16:00-19:00; Su 07:30-12:00, 16:30-19:00. An imposing cathedral, well worth visiting. Also see for Terme Achilliane and Museo Diocesano which are located there.

  * Museo Diocesano, Via Etnea 8, +39 095 281635. M W F 09:00-14:00, Tu Th 09:00-14:00, 15:00-18:00, Sa 09:00-13:00. The collection of the museum contains various religious artefacts from the Cathedral and some other churches around. It's ticket office also sells tickets to the Terme Achilliane. €7; Museum, Terme Achilliane, Benedictine Monastery €12.

  * Palazzo degli Elefanti.

  * Palazzo dei Chierici.

  * Chiesa della Badia di Sant'Agata, Via Vittorio Emanuele 184. Guided tours to the dome and the terraces: Tu 09:00-12:00, W-Sa 09:30 -12:30, 15:30-17:30; Su 09:30-12:30, 19:00-20:30. €3.

• Castello Ursino, Piazza Federico Di Svevia, +39 095 345830. 09:00-19:00 (last admission 18:00). A 13th-century castle near center. It hosts Museo civico (Civic Museum). €19, youth and seniors €8.
• Monastero dei Benedettini di San Nicolò l'Arena, Piazza Dante, 32, +39 095 7102767. M-F 08:00-20:00, Sa 08:00-14:00. Guided tours scheduled on hour 09:00-17:00 (Aug 11:00-18:00). It is the oldest one in Sicily and it is one of the biggest monasteries in Europe. It hosts now the Faculty of Literature of the University of Catania. €7.
• Chiesa di San Nicolò l'Arena, Piazza Dante (adjacent to the Benedictine Monastery, +39 095 7159912. Daily 09:00-12:30. It is an unachieved church which was supposed to be the biggest one in Sicily. the church: free; visit to the eaves €3.
• Via Crociferi. It's a centre of an ecclesiastical architecture in Catania: in no more than 200 m there are 4 churches, 3 monasteries and a college.

  * Monastero di San Benedetto, +39 095 7152207. Tu F Su 10:00-17:00. A splendid baroque monument. €5 (guided tours only).

  * Chiesa di San Francesco Borgia, Via Crociferi, 17, +39 095 310762. M-Sa 09:00-19:30, 1st Su/month 09:00-19:30, 3rd Su/month 09:00-13:30. Today the church used for various cultural events. Next to the church is a former Jesuit college. Free admission.

  * Chiesa di San Giuliano, Via Crociferi, 36, +39 095 7159360.

  * Villa Cerami, Via Cerami (at the norther end of the Via Crociferi. A Baroque villa. It hosts Faculty of Law of the University.

• Basilica Maria Santissima dell'Elemosina, Via Etnea 23. Tu-Su 09:00-12:00, 17:00-19:00. Free admission.
• Palazzo Biscari, Via Museo Biscari, 10 - 16, +39 095 7152508. Daily 07:00-13:00, 15:00-19:00. It is one the most interesting baroque palaces in Catania. The palace is privately owned. Check with the tourist office to arrange a visit.

Piazza del Duomo. An attractive, lively baroque square. Here you can find the Fontana dell'Elefante (Elephant Fountain) or U Liotru - the symbol of the city. There are three buildings here that are World Heritage Sites. The square is also an entrance to the elegant via Etnea, the main shopping street.

Castello Ursino, Piazza Federico Di Svevia, +39 095 345830. 09:00-19:00 (last admission 18:00). A 13th-century castle near center. It hosts Museo civico (Civic Museum). €19, youth and seniors €8.

Monastero dei Benedettini di San Nicolò l'Arena, Piazza Dante, 32, +39 095 7102767. M-F 08:00-20:00, Sa 08:00-14:00. Guided tours scheduled on hour 09:00-17:00 (Aug 11:00-18:00). It is the oldest one in Sicily and it is one of the biggest monasteries in Europe. It hosts now the Faculty of Literature of the University of Catania. €7.

Chiesa di San Nicolò l'Arena, Piazza Dante (adjacent to the Benedictine Monastery, +39 095 7159912. Daily 09:00-12:30. It is an unachieved church which was supposed to be the biggest one in Sicily. the church: free; visit to the eaves €3.

Via Crociferi. It's a centre of an ecclesiastical architecture in Catania: in no more than 200 m there are 4 churches, 3 monasteries and a college.

* Monastero di San Benedetto, +39 095 7152207. Tu F Su 10:00-17:00. A splendid baroque monument. €5 (guided tours only).

* Chiesa di San Francesco Borgia, Via Crociferi, 17, +39 095 310762. M-Sa 09:00-19:30, 1st Su/month 09:00-19:30, 3rd Su/month 09:00-13:30. Today the church used for various cultural events. Next to the church is a former Jesuit college. Free admission.

* Chiesa di San Giuliano, Via Crociferi, 36, +39 095 7159360.

* Villa Cerami, Via Cerami (at the norther end of the Via Crociferi. A Baroque villa. It hosts Faculty of Law of the University.

Basilica Maria Santissima dell'Elemosina, Via Etnea 23. Tu-Su 09:00-12:00, 17:00-19:00. Free admission.

Palazzo Biscari, Via Museo Biscari, 10 - 16, +39 095 7152508. Daily 07:00-13:00, 15:00-19:00. It is one the most interesting baroque palaces in Catania. The palace is privately owned. Check with the tourist office to arrange a visit.

• Teatro Romano e Odeon, Via Vittorio Emanuele II, 266, +39 095 7150508. M-Sa 09:00-19:00; Su 09:00-13:30. The theatre dates back to the 1st century CE when it was built on the remains of the Greek theatre it used to hold up to 7000 spectators. Odeon, a smaller theatrical building, was built next to it in the 2nd century CE. €6; 1st Su/month free (09:00-17:00).
• Terme della Rotonda, Via della Rotonda, +39 095 7150508. W Su 09:00-13:00. The remains of ancient Roman baths. Free admission.
• Anfiteatro Romano, Piazza Stesicoro, +39 095 7472268. Tu-Sa 09:00-13:30, 14:30-17:00. Some modest remains amidst the square. Free admission.
• Terme Achilliane, Via Etnea 8 (check with the ticket office at the Museo Diocesano. M W F 09:00-14:00; Tu Th 09:00-14:00, 15:00-18:00; Sa Su 09:00-13:00;. The remains of a small part of a large ancient baths located underground is open for the public. It's under the Catania's Cathedral square. Some parts of mosaics and marble floor as well as some remains of decorated walls. The remains are still quite impressive. €5.

Teatro Romano e Odeon, Via Vittorio Emanuele II, 266, +39 095 7150508. M-Sa 09:00-19:00; Su 09:00-13:30. The theatre dates back to the 1st century CE when it was built on the remains of the Greek theatre it used to hold up to 7000 spectators. Odeon, a smaller theatrical building, was built next to it in the 2nd century CE. €6; 1st Su/month free (09:00-17:00).

Terme della Rotonda, Via della Rotonda, +39 095 7150508. W Su 09:00-13:00. The remains of ancient Roman baths. Free admission.

Anfiteatro Romano, Piazza Stesicoro, +39 095 7472268. Tu-Sa 09:00-13:30, 14:30-17:00. Some modest remains amidst the square. Free admission.

Terme Achilliane, Via Etnea 8 (check with the ticket office at the Museo Diocesano. M W F 09:00-14:00; Tu Th 09:00-14:00, 15:00-18:00; Sa Su 09:00-13:00;. The remains of a small part of a large ancient baths located underground is open for the public. It's under the Catania's Cathedral square. Some parts of mosaics and marble floor as well as some remains of decorated walls. The remains are still quite impressive. €5.

• Teatro Massimo Bellini, Piazza Vincenzo Bellini, +39 095 7306111. A 19th-century opera theatre named after the Catania-born composer Vincenzo Bellini. The square before the theatre is a popular meeting place among the local young people, so its neighbourhood is very lively and busy by night.
• Palazzo dell'Università, Piazza Università.
• Palazzo Della Cultura, Via Vittorio Emanuele 121, +39 095 7428038. M-Sa 09:00-19:00, Su 09:00-13:30. A former monastery, it's now a venue for various exhibitions. It also hosts the access point, an information office of the municipal museums (M-Sa 09:00-13:00). Free admission.
• Palazzo Gravina-Cruyllas, Piazza San Francesco d'Assisi, 3, +39 095 7150535. M-Sa 09:00-19:00, Su 09:00-13:00. It is the birthplace of Vincenzo Bellini. Thete are two museums here. €5.

  * Museo Belliniano. A museum devoted to Vincenzo Bellini, a famous Italian composer.

  * Museo Emilio Greco. A museum devoted to Italian artist Emilio Greco. Free.

• Quattro Canti. A square at the intersection of Via Etnea with Via di Sangiuliano. It is somewhat reminiscent to the other octagonal squares in Italy: Quattro Canti at the piazza Vigliena in Palermo, Quattro Canti in Paternò, and Quattro Fontane in Rome, next to the church of San Carlino by Francesco Borromini.
• Porta Garibaldi, Via Garibaldi (at the E end of Piazza Palestro. The gates erected in 1768 in honor of King Ferdinand IV and his family.

Teatro Massimo Bellini, Piazza Vincenzo Bellini, +39 095 7306111. A 19th-century opera theatre named after the Catania-born composer Vincenzo Bellini. The square before the theatre is a popular meeting place among the local young people, so its neighbourhood is very lively and busy by night.

Palazzo dell'Università, Piazza Università.

Palazzo Della Cultura, Via Vittorio Emanuele 121, +39 095 7428038. M-Sa 09:00-19:00, Su 09:00-13:30. A former monastery, it's now a venue for various exhibitions. It also hosts the access point, an information office of the municipal museums (M-Sa 09:00-13:00). Free admission.

Palazzo Gravina-Cruyllas, Piazza San Francesco d'Assisi, 3, +39 095 7150535. M-Sa 09:00-19:00, Su 09:00-13:00. It is the birthplace of Vincenzo Bellini. Thete are two museums here. €5.

* Museo Belliniano. A museum devoted to Vincenzo Bellini, a famous Italian composer.

* Museo Emilio Greco. A museum devoted to Italian artist Emilio Greco. Free.

Quattro Canti. A square at the intersection of Via Etnea with Via di Sangiuliano. It is somewhat reminiscent to the other octagonal squares in Italy: Quattro Canti at the piazza Vigliena in [[Palermo]], Quattro Canti in [[Catania_(province)|Paternò]], and Quattro Fontane in [[Rome]], next to the church of San Carlino by Francesco Borromini.

Porta Garibaldi, Via Garibaldi (at the E end of Piazza Palestro. The gates erected in 1768 in honor of King Ferdinand IV and his family.

• Giardino Bellini. Always open. Charming 19th-century park. The oldest part of it, the Prince of Biscari's Maze or Laberinto Biscari, dates back to the 18th century.
• Orto Botanico dell'Università di Catania, Via Etnea, 397 (just north of Villa Bellini; it backs onto other streets but you can only enter by V Etnea, +39 095 430901. M-F (winter) 09:00-17:00, (summer) 09:00-19:30; Sa 09:00-14:00. Small botanical garden of the University of Catania. Free admittance.

Giardino Bellini. Always open. Charming 19th-century park. The oldest part of it, the Prince of Biscari's Maze or Laberinto Biscari, dates back to the 18th century.

Orto Botanico dell'Università di Catania, Via Etnea, 397 (just north of Villa Bellini; it backs onto other streets but you can only enter by V Etnea, +39 095 430901. M-F (winter) 09:00-17:00, (summer) 09:00-19:30; Sa 09:00-14:00. Small botanical garden of the University of Catania. Free admittance.

• Via Etnea. - Walk the main shopping avenue, running north from the Piazza del Duomo has most of the city's imposing building and is busy throughout the day and evening. Lots of churches. This road is the equivalent of Las Ramblas in Barcelona, so in the evenings the local people put on their Sunday clothes and walk at a relaxed pace along this avenue.
• La Plaja, sandy beaches south of the city along the bay
• The Riviera dei ciclopi, a rocky, volcano coast north of the city, stretching almost to Taormina
• Visit a minor religious festival, but avoid Sant'Agata on the 5th February due to the excessive crowds.
• A vintage self-drive excursion or a themed tour on a classic Fiat 500, starting from Catania or Taormina/Giardini Naxos. The most popular excursions are themed on the Francis Ford Coppola's Godfather movie and on the Etna Wines Road. You can reach villages like Savoca, Forza D’Agrò and Taormina. Contact 500 Vintage Tour - Classic car hire & tours - Taormina - Phone +39 3497234906 - Email: info@500vintagetour.com - Website: 500 Vintage Tour
• EtnaWay, +39 3281977919. Guided excursions on mount Etna, with transfer from Catania, Giarre or Taormina by jeep and 4x4. Visit of summit craters and most beautiful places of the volcano.

Via Etnea. - Walk the main shopping avenue, running north from the Piazza del Duomo has most of the city's imposing building and is busy throughout the day and evening. Lots of churches. This road is the equivalent of Las Ramblas in [[Barcelona]], so in the evenings the local people put on their Sunday clothes and walk at a relaxed pace along this avenue.

La Plaja, sandy beaches south of the city along the bay

The Riviera dei ciclopi, a rocky, volcano coast north of the city, stretching almost to Taormina

Visit a minor religious festival, but avoid Sant'Agata on the 5th February due to the excessive crowds.

EtnaWay, +39 3281977919. Guided excursions on mount Etna, with transfer from Catania, Giarre or Taormina by jeep and 4x4. Visit of summit craters and most beautiful places of the volcano.

Pizzo means protection money extorted by the Mafia. Addiopizzo Catania is a movement of shopkeepers who refuse to pay - please support them by shopping in their stores. They also run educational and cultural outreach activities.

Every morning except Sundays, try haggling at:

• Fera 'o Luni, Piazza Carlo Alberto. M-Sa morning. A bustling food and clothes market. The main historic market of Catania.
• La Piscaria, Piazza Alonzo di Benedetto. M-Sa morning. A large fish, fruit & veg market just off Piazza Duomo.

Fera 'o Luni, Piazza Carlo Alberto. M-Sa morning. A bustling food and clothes market. The main historic market of Catania.

La Piscaria, Piazza Alonzo di Benedetto. M-Sa morning. A large fish, fruit & veg market just off Piazza Duomo.

Catania is proud of its specialities. A famous speciality is pasta alla Norma which consists in pasta (generally macaroni) dressed with tomato sauce and topped with fried eggplant slices, grated ricotta salad and fresh basil. The fish is also good, as Catania is a large port. The city is also known for horse meat, especially in some areas around the "Benedictine Monastery".

Typical Catanese pastry include the world-wide famous cannolo alla Ricotta, cassatella di Sant'Agata (a small cassata) and pasta di Mandorla (based on almond meal).

Like in most of Sicily, you can get a freshly made cold panini in a salumeria, where you choose whatever you want to put in (prosciutto cotto/crudo and cheese are probably the most popular ones), for €1-3. Don’t forget that most of salumerias are closed 13:00-16:00 and on Sunday afternoon.

You can also have some tavola calda (“hot bite”) meal, most of them made with cheese and meat, fried or baked. You will normally pay €1.50 for one piece.

Another Sicilian speciality is arancino, which are deep fried rice balls with various fillings, meat or eggplant or spinach, that sell for €1.50 at most places. They make a good lunch snack.

Also, especially in the evening, some big kiosks sell hot, tasty and fat panini, some even horse meat filling. Most people add fries into the sandwich. Usually, it’s about €2.50-3.00 and they are very popular among teenagers. Because its quite cheap, there is normally confusion at these kiosks.

In summer, a typical breakfast consists of "Granita" (a kind of sorbet of almond or black mulberry) served with a brioscia (sweet round small loaf): it is a nourishing and refreshing combination that can be found in almost any bar of the city.

• Spinella Pasticceria, 292 Via Etna, +39 095 327 247. Daily 07:30-22:30, Sa Su to 23:30. Sicilian cakes, cannolis, arancini, espresso. Outdoor seating.
• Etoile d'Or, Via Cardinale Dusmet 7/9. 24/7. Pasticceria open all hours.

Spinella Pasticceria, 292 Via Etna, +39 095 327 247. Daily 07:30-22:30, Sa Su to 23:30. Sicilian cakes, cannolis, arancini, espresso. Outdoor seating.

Etoile d'Or, Via Cardinale Dusmet 7/9. 24/7. Pasticceria open all hours.

• Camelot, 73 Piazza Federico di Svevia (near Castello Ursino. Okay for the meat lover, fish is from frozen.
• Cool Food, Via Antonino di San Giuliano, 242 (Corner Via Manzoni, +39 392 412 21 85. Mon closed, Tue-Fri 16:00-02:00, Sat-Sun 16:00-00:00. Restaurant and pinseria (old-style home-made pizzeria). Great atmosphere, good bar with Italian and international drinks, excellent snacks and cakes.
• Trattoria Il Mare, 7 Via San Michele, +39 095 317 024. Delicious seafood. Casual atmosphere. Tu-Su 12:30-15:00, 19:30-23:00.
• L'Angolo dello Chef, 21 Via Grimaldi (corner of Via Plebiscito. Humble home cooking joint. Traditional Sicilian dishes from caponata to polli alla brace.
• Dopo Teatro, Via Coppola 4, +39 349 435 4002. Open 7 days, 19:30 till very late. Panineria with tables. Known for grilled meats.
• Sicilia in Bocca alla Marina, Via Beato Cardinale G.B. Dusmet, 35, +39 095 2500208. Typical Sicilian food and pizza. There's another restaurant in town with this name: it's on Piazza Pietro Lupo but it's not recommended. And there's yet another 10 km north up the mountain.

Camelot, 73 Piazza Federico di Svevia (near Castello Ursino. Okay for the meat lover, fish is from frozen.

Cool Food, Via Antonino di San Giuliano, 242 (Corner Via Manzoni, +39 392 412 21 85. Mon closed, Tue-Fri 16:00-02:00, Sat-Sun 16:00-00:00. Restaurant and pinseria (old-style home-made pizzeria). Great atmosphere, good bar with Italian and international drinks, excellent snacks and cakes.

Trattoria Il Mare, 7 Via San Michele, +39 095 317 024. Delicious seafood. Casual atmosphere. Tu-Su 12:30-15:00, 19:30-23:00.

L'Angolo dello Chef, 21 Via Grimaldi (corner of Via Plebiscito. Humble home cooking joint. Traditional Sicilian dishes from caponata to polli alla brace.

Dopo Teatro, Via Coppola 4, +39 349 435 4002. Open 7 days, 19:30 till very late. Panineria with tables. Known for grilled meats.

Sicilia in Bocca alla Marina, Via Beato Cardinale G.B. Dusmet, 35, +39 095 2500208. Typical Sicilian food and pizza. There's another restaurant in town with this name: it's on Piazza Pietro Lupo but it's not recommended. And there's yet another 10 km north up the mountain.

• Trattoria di Fiore, 26 Via Pietro Antonio Coppola, +39 095 316 283. Closed Monday. Classic Sicilian food in a small family trattoria.
• Trattoria da Antonio, Via Castello Ursino 59, +39 095 218 4938. Lunch Tu-Su; dinner daily 19:00-00:00. Reasonably priced fresh seafood.
• Al Cavalier Roxy, 51 Piazza Federico di Svevia, +39 095 340 418. Daily lunch, dinner 19:30-00:00. Sicilian cuisine.
• Trattoria U Fucularu, 20 Via Euplio Reina, +39 393 385 5925. closed Tuesday. Antipasto buffet, grilled meats.

Trattoria di Fiore, 26 Via Pietro Antonio Coppola, +39 095 316 283. Closed Monday. Classic Sicilian food in a small family trattoria.

Trattoria da Antonio, Via Castello Ursino 59, +39 095 218 4938. Lunch Tu-Su; dinner daily 19:00-00:00. Reasonably priced fresh seafood.

Al Cavalier Roxy, 51 Piazza Federico di Svevia, +39 095 340 418. Daily lunch, dinner 19:30-00:00. Sicilian cuisine.

Trattoria U Fucularu, 20 Via Euplio Reina, +39 393 385 5925. closed Tuesday. Antipasto buffet, grilled meats.

You'd find all kinds of kiosks in the city which sell various refreshments, such as coffee, limoncello or popular local drinks such as seltz al limone (soda water with fresh-squeezed lemon juice) or mandarino al limone (soda water with tangerine syrup and fresh-squeezed lemon juice).

Be careful not to look conspicuously touristy, exposing jewelry, large bags or photo gear that might entice fast pickpockets or robbers. They are abundant all around the city and they recognize immediately anyone who is not from around here.

Also, there will be A LOT of people that WILL stop you and aggressively ask you for money.

As in any other city avoid the station area, expecially at night.

San Cristoforo is the most dangerous neighborhood in Catania and is located near the city centre, at the end of Via Plebiscito. Do not wander the streets alone. Another dangerous neighborhood is Librino, but of no interest for a tourist.

• Mount Etna is an eerie volcanic landscape, with a black terrain of pumice ash and rivers of solidified lava. The top is 3329 m high, so it's always cold, and if the city weather is iffy, then it will be beyond miserable up there. There is a daily bus service via Nicolosi to Rifugio Sapienza ("Etna Sud"), the usual approach to the summit. You need your own car to reach the northern approach at Piano Provenzana ("Etna Nord"). You can also explore the surrounding villages on the narrow gauge Circumetnea train, but you can't approach the summit that way.
• The Riviera dei Ciclopi is a chain of three villages on the coast north-east of Catania. In Homer's legend, Odysseus / Ulysses landed here but a one-eyed giant trapped him and began eating his crew; Odysseus got the giant drunk, blinded him and escaped. The furious giant hurled rocks blind at the escaping ship, narrowly missing.

  In Aci Castello see Castello di Aci. Daily 09:00-13:00 plus winter 15:00-17:00, spring 15:00-19:00, summer 16:30-20:30. A medieval castle perched on a giant rock, right over the sea. Contains a small civic museum. 3 euro.

  Aci Trezza is a little fishing port known for Isole dei Ciclopi — giant rocks offshore, supposedly those thrown by the Cyclops at Ulysses.

  Acireale has a big carnival end of Jan to beginning of Feb. Riserva naturale orientata La Timpa is located along the rocky coast of the village. There are a few panoramic trails across the reserve - check their site.

Aci Castello and Aci Trezza are in a 30-min bus ride from Catania. Take AMT urban bus 534 (Catania – Acicastello) which starts from Piazza Borsellino or AST regional bus from Piazza Papa Giovanni XXIII. For Acireale take either AST, Interbus or Zappalà & Torrisi buses (50 min).

• Further afield by public transport you can day-trip to Taormina and Syracuse. With your own car you can day-trip to Modica and Ragusa, Piazza Armerina, Enna, Militello in Val di Catania, Caltagirone, and Agrigento.

To reach the north coast, the quickest way is to blat along the autostrada A18, or take the A19 past Enna. A more attractive route SS185 winds through the hills from Taormina, with views back over Etna, and through the picturesque medieval town of Novara di Sicilia. On the north coast either turn west for Palermo, or go a little way north to Milazzo the port for the Aeolian Islands, or turn east to the ferry port of Messina.

[[Mount Etna]] is an eerie volcanic landscape, with a black terrain of pumice ash and rivers of solidified lava. The top is 3329 m high, so it's always cold, and if the city weather is iffy, then it will be beyond miserable up there. There is a daily bus service via [[Nicolosi]] to Rifugio Sapienza ("Etna Sud"), the usual approach to the summit. You need your own car to reach the northern approach at Piano Provenzana ("Etna Nord"). You can also explore the surrounding villages on the narrow gauge [[Catania_(province)#By train|Circumetnea]] train, but you can't approach the summit that way.

The Riviera dei Ciclopi is a chain of three villages on the coast north-east of Catania. In Homer's legend, Odysseus / Ulysses landed here but a one-eyed giant trapped him and began eating his crew; Odysseus got the giant drunk, blinded him and escaped. The furious giant hurled rocks blind at the escaping ship, narrowly missing.

In Aci Castello see Castello di Aci. Daily 09:00-13:00 plus winter 15:00-17:00, spring 15:00-19:00, summer 16:30-20:30. A medieval castle perched on a giant rock, right over the sea. Contains a small civic museum. 3 euro.

[[Aci Trezza]] is a little fishing port known for Isole dei Ciclopi — giant rocks offshore, supposedly those thrown by the Cyclops at Ulysses.

Acireale has a big carnival end of Jan to beginning of Feb. Riserva naturale orientata La Timpa is located along the rocky coast of the village. There are a few panoramic trails across the reserve - check their site.

Further afield by public transport you can day-trip to [[Taormina]] and [[Syracuse (Sicily)|Syracuse]]. With your own car you can day-trip to [[Modica]] and [[Ragusa]], [[Piazza Armerina]], [[Enna]], [[Militello in Val di Catania]], [[Caltagirone]], and [[Agrigento]].