Catania

It is one of the big Sicilian towns wich has incomparable privileges of tourist centre; it is, in fact, with its position at the slopes of the biggest active volcano in Europe, thestarting point for all the winter activities and it has the rare privilege to allow the tourist, in the same season, the spring one, two activities, the winter-sports and the seaside one. As regards its artistic and monumental heritage, whilst the architectonic remains of the Greek period are very rare (isodomic walls of the theatre), the Roman ones are remarkably wells preserved.

The Greek Theatre and the odeon, the majestic Roman amphitheatre, the Rotonda church the Achilles spa , make way, in the century to Norman Monuments, among which are <<The Apse>> and some in the interior of the Cathedral, the Swabiam Castle named <<Ursino>>, and to the splendour of the baroque, harmoniously expressed in Crociferi Street, in the Biscari and St. Demetrus Palaces, in the monastery and church of the Benedictines, in the Garibaldi Gate, in the harmoniously designed Elephant square. Particularly worthy of a visit are the churches of Catania, nearly all of which are in the Baroque style, which enclose decorations, frescoes and paintings of great artistic value.

Among the greatest, the Duomo, ereted in 1092 and rebuilt after the terrifying earthquake of 1693; of St. Benedit, St. Julian, of the Jesuites, of the monastery of St. Agata, of the Collegiate church, of St. nicholas of Rena, of St. Mary of Jesus. For those who are fond of music, there is the nineteenth century Teatro Massimo <<Bellini>>, where concerts and classical dance alternate to opera, in repertoire that, for preparation and artist, is not second to the Scala in Milano, the San Carlo in Napoli or the Massimo in Palermo.
An important moment for local life is the traditional feast of S. Agata, patron of Catania. The town also offers cultural spaces of interest, as the recently restored complex <<Le Ciminiere>>.

Itineraries in province

The first of the three itineraries recomended to tourist leads, across the famous plain to Catania, to Caltagirone country of the most typical of sicilian crafts, ceramics. The second itinerary, leading to the sea, crosses two distinct and very different parts of the Catania Bay and the contrast it offers are typical of the natural beauty of Catania region. To the south stretches a dazzling and boundless beach, La Plaja, which the simeto river fills with golden sand. To the north, the Riviera of the Cyclopes, with its cliffs of dark lava, offers incomparable beauty.

The last itinerary leads to the Etna, <<Our Mountain>>, as the Catanese like to call it. This, the most important Volcano in Europe, has two characteristics wich make it unique both as a tourist centre and as a resort. First, the interest it holds as a volcano wich attracts not only scientist from all over the world desirous of studing the history of its eruptions over thousand years in its huge crater and on its corroted slopes, but also touristwho love exitements and new sensation.

Secondly the attraction it offers as a winter resort, since Etna is one of the most interesting and original region in the Mediterranean for winter sports, with is maximum altitude of 3.335 meters, sky slope, dense woods, panoramic landscape (where wath is ugly is at the same time Beautiful) and excellent holte organization offering confort on the two slopes, the Nicolosi and the Linguaglossa one with important and modern ski-lifts facilities. Itsslopes are full of countless othercentres, all equally touristically interesting, among which: Trecastagni, Zafferana, Adrano, Randazzo and Ragalna. In the south, Vizzini, at 60 Km far fromCatania, i sone of the most importantstages of the Verghiano itinerary.

Interesting stages of a tourist itinerary towards Taormina are : Acitrezza, with the Faraglioni and the Lachea Island, Acicastello, Famous seaside resort, dominated by the scenic straight down the sea castle, and Acireale, at 15 Km far from Catania, harmonious village in its Baroque architecture and seat of an important thermal centre of Sicilian Region. Every year, here it "the most beautiful Carnival in Sicily" takes.