Introduction

The city of Catania is located at the foot of Mount Etna. Although the city makes a chaotic and unattractive first impression, it offers some surprises. It may not come as a surprise that there is a lot of crime in the city, which is situated on the island of Sicily, known for the Mafia.

Population

Catania is the 10th largest city of Italy. The city has around 300,000 inhabitants, which makes it the third largest city of Sicily.

Location

Catania is located on the east coast of the Italian island of Sicily, on the Ionian Sea. From the city, you can see the 3,000 meters high Mount Etna. Many people choose Catania as their base for visiting Mount Etna.

Economy

Catania has a commercial port, which borders on the Ionian Sea. The city has the highest number of professional and amateur theatre companies per square meter in all of Italy. Since the 1990's, it also has a vibrant nightlife, which is important to the economy. In addition, the tourist sector is important as well. Many tourists visit Catania on their way to Mount Etna. The city itself also has a number of interesting things to offer. And finally, there is a lot of crime in the city. This is to be expected on the home island of the Mafia.

Airports

Catania Airport, also known as Fontanarossa, lies 7 kilometers to the south-west of the city. It handles domestic as well as international flights. International flights always make a stop-over in Rome or Milan, although there are exceptions during the summer season, with direct flights from, for instance, London.

Public transport

From Catania, you can take the bus to, for instance, Palermo (Sicily's largest city), and even to Rome. There are also city buses and regional buses. From the train station, you can also take the train to other cities on Sicily.

Traffic and Parking

Although it is easy enough to get to Catania, once you enter the city it is another matter. Catania's complex one-way system, in combination with the narrow streets, makes it a difficult place to drive. Traffic is regularly clogged and it is hard to park your car. We therefore recommend leaving your car at the edge of the city and proceeding on foot or by public transport.

Hotels

There is nothing special to report on the hotels in Catania, other than advising you to book in advance.

External Sources

For more information about Catania, we recommend Google, and the following sources:

• Wikipedia, Catania
• Catania Tourism
• Municipal website (Italian)