Catania is the second largest city on Sicily after Palermo with a population of 300,000. sitting in the shadow of Mount Etna, Catania is fortunate to be here today after suffering devasting volcanic eruptions and earthquakes throughout its history.

The pulse of the city takes some beating! Its lively to say the least and with its Unesco-listed historic centre, is one of the Silcilian gems. Sitting on the east coast of the island between Messina and Syracuse on the picture perfect coast of the Ionian Sea, Catania is a top destination for any visit to Sicily.

Via Etnea is Catania's main street running from Piazza del Duomo to the base of Mount Etna. This is the heartbeat of the city packed with shops, cafes, bars and restaurants and gets incredibly busy at the weekends when the people from the neighbouring villages flock in to Catania.

Nightlife

With hundreds of cafes, bars, restaurants and clubs, the nightlife here is second to none catering for all tastes - from a chic and sophisticated dining experience to hedonistic late night partying, Catania is hard to beat for evening entertainment.

The Beach of AciCastello

Tourists flock to this beach during the hot summer months who come to admire the medieval castle perched on the cliffs above and the beach clubs and restaurants that line the lava shoreline. When the sun sets, the evening entertainment is some of the best in Sicily with fine alfresco dining and dancing at the beach clubs.

Aci Trezza Beach

Aci Trezza was an old fishing village and now a popular tourist resort with one of the best beaches on the east coast. Located just 10km south of Catania, Aci Trezza is in the heart of the Marine Riserva dei Ciclopi and known for its crystal clear waters and rock stack formations, called Faraglioni dei Ciclopi.

Isola Bella

This is a pebble beach sitting under the cliff top village of Taormina and is simply stunning with crystal clear waters around the tiny island. Its a very popular hangout for day trippers given the easy access via the cable car to the lovely village with its fine restaurants, cafes and shops.

Catania has a warm, sub-tropical climate with mild winters and hot summers. Temperatures rarely drop below 22°C until the end of October and can peak at 35°C and more in August. Spring is generally the best time to visit - it comes early in Sicily with the almond trees blossoming in February and the spring flowers in full bloom in March.

Things to see and do

Catania offers a wealth of things to see and do both in the city and the surrounding area. As a starter, check out the subterranean river, the Amenano, that surfaces south of Piazza Duomo in the city or the spectacular cathedral.Some other popular places to see and go...