Catanese and Calatino

<< Sicily

The Metropolitan City of Catania includes the regions of Catanese and Calatino. Catanese is the area around Catania, dominated by Mount Etna and featuring various historic towns around the volcano and on the nearby coast. Calatino is a hilly area to the southwest, centered around Caltagirone.

Aci Castello

Aci Castello is a town located on the coast just north of Catania. The town developed around a castle in the Late Middle Ages, and it has been a small fishing center for most of its history.

Norman Castle of Aci Castello

The Norman Castle of Aci Castello is an ancient fort located on a rock formation on the coast of Aci Castello. The Byzantines built a fortification here in the 7th century, which was later turned into a castle by the Normans in the 12th century. The town of Aci Castello developed around the castle, which is now the symbol of the city. The castle now houses a museum of archaeology and natural history.

Aci Trezza

Aci Trezza is a small town located on the Ionian Sea north of Aci Castello. Once a small fishing village, it is now a famous tourist destination, also known for being the set of the 1881 novel I Malavoglia by Giovanni Verga. Just off the coast near the town are a series of rocky islets known as Cyclopean Isles (Isole Ciclopi).

Aci Catena

Aci Catena is a town located north of Catania and just west of Acireale. For centuries a small center, it developed recently, but still features some historic attractions.

Archaeological Area of Santa Venera al Pozzo

The Archaeological Area of Santa Venera al Pozzo is an archaeological site located south of Aci Catena. The site includes the ruins of a thermal complex built by the Romans, as well as a few other ancient structures.

Acireale

Acireale is a city located along the coast on the Ionian Sea north of Catania. Inhabited since ancient times, it has always been one of the main centers in the area, and it is now famous for its carnival and its artistic heritage.

Acireale Cathedral

The Acireale Cathedral is the main church in the city. It was erected in various phases between the 16th and 19th century, and it features a blend of Gothic Revival, Mannerist, and Baroque style. The church has a monumental facade with two bell towers, a large rose window, and a decorated portal. The interior houses several artworks. A museum of religious art is located next to the church.

Basilica of Santi Pietro e Paolo

The Basilica of Santi Pietro e Paolo is a church in Acireale, located next to the city’s cathedral. The basilica was built bewteen the 18th and 19th century over a previous church. The building is in Baroque and Neoclassical style, and features a decorated facade and various artworks.

Basilica of San Sebastiano

The Basilica of San Sebastiano is a historic Baroque church in the center of Acireale. The church was built between the 17th and 18th century, and features an elaborate facade adorned with numerous statues and decorations. The interior of the church is decorated with several artworks and frescoes.

Giarre

Giarre is a town located near the coast north of Acireale. Inhabited since ancient times, the modern town emerged in the 16th century, and it is now one of the main centers in the area.

Church of Sant’Isidoro

The Church of Sant’Isidoro is the main church of Giarre. The church was built in Neoclassical style between the 18th and 19th century, and features a decorated facade with two bell towers. Inside, the church houses various artworks.

Mount Etna

Mount Etna is a large volcano located near the eastern coast of Sicily, north of Catania. With a height of over 3,300 meters, it is the highest peak in Italy outside the Alps, and the largest volcano in Europe. Mount Etna is also one of the most active volcanoes in the world, and it has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

✪ Volcanic Craters of Mount Etna

The summit of Mount Etna features various volcanic craters. The two central craters are known as Voragine and Bocca Nuova, and two more, the Northeast Crater (Cratere di Nord-Est) and the Southeast Crater (Cratere di Sud-Est) are located nearby. Some smaller craters are located in other parts of the mountain too. Hiking to the top of the mountain up to the crater is possible, and this peculiar area also offers a great view on the surrounding region.

Etna Cableway

The Etna Cableway (Funivia dell’Etna) is a cableway located on the southern slopes of Mount Etna. The cableway begins at an altitude of 1,900 meters from Rifugio Giovannino Sapienza, a mountain hut surrounded by a small ski resort. The upper station is located at an altitude of 2,500 meters.

Piano Provenzana

Piano Provenzana is a ski resort located on the northern slopes of Mount Etna, in the municipality of Linguaglossa. Despite being a small resort, the area features various pistes, and it is a popular tourist destination.

Paternò

Paternò is a city located just south of Mount Etna in the Metropolitan City of Catania. Settled in prehistoric times, the town has always been an important regional center, and features various historic attractions.

Norman Castle of Paternò

The Norman Castle of Paternò is an 11th-century fortification built by the Normans in Paternò. The castle later served as a residence for local nobles, and was then used as a prison. Now restored, the castle features a single imposing structure, and houses some artworks inside. Next to the castle is the medieval Church of Santa Maria dell’Alto.

Adrano

Adrano is a town in the Metropolitan City of Catania, located on the southwestern slopes of Mount Etna. Founded by Greek colonists around 400 BCE, the town remained for a long time an important regional center, and now it features some historic sites.

Norman Castle of Adrano

The Norman Castle of Adrano is a medieval castle in Adrano. The fort was built by the Normans in the 11th century, and consists of a single large tower. Inside, the castle houses an archaeological museum with various findings unearthed around the town.

Randazzo

Randazzo is a town located on the northern side of Mount Etna in the Metropolitan City of Catania. The town developed in the Middle Ages, but was rebuilt in the 20th century after being damaged during World War II.

Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta

The Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta is a large Gothic church in Randazzo. The church was built during the 13th century and was later reworked. The basilica features a decorated Gothic facade which was restored in the 19th century, while inside it houses Renaissance and Baroque artworks.

Castiglione di Sicilia

Castiglione di Sicilia is a small town located northeast of Mount Etna in the Metropolitan City of Catania. The village was founded in ancient times, and it is known for its medieval old town and other historic sites.

Cuba of Santa Domenica

The Cuba of Santa Domenica is a small religious site located near Castiglione di Sicilia. Its origins are unclear, but it is likely that the building was erected between the 10th and the 11th century. Built in Arab-Norman style, it is one of the best preserved structures of its kind in the area.

Caltagirone

Caltagirone is a town located in the the southwestern portion of the Metropolitan City of Catania, at the center of an area known as Calatino. Inhabited since ancient times, the modern town emerged in the Late Middle Ages, and it is an important center for the production of ceramics.

Caltagirone Cathedral

The Caltagirone Cathedral is the main church of the city. Originally erected during the Late Middle Ages, the church was reworked a few times, and was rebuilt in Baroque style in the 18th century. Inside, it houses various artworks and decorations.

Staircase of Santa Maria del Monte

The Staircase of Santa Maria del Monte (Scalinata di Santa Maria del Monte) is a long staircase in the center of Caltagirone, which connects the old town with the higher portion of the city. Built in 1606, it was later reworked and decorated with ceramics on its steps. The staircase is now the most famous landmark of the city.

Luigi Sturzo Civic Museums

The Luigi Sturzo Civic Museums (Musei Civici Luigi Sturzo) is a museum complex in the center of Caltagirone. The museum houses a collection of archaeological findings unearthed around the city, as well as various artworks and some exhibitions on local history.

Regional Museum of Ceramics

The Regional Museum of Ceramics (Museo Regionale della Ceramica) is a museum in Caltagirone, dedicated to the long tradition of ceramics production in the town. The museum houses a rich collection of historic ceramics dating from prehistoric times until today. Next to the museum is Villa Vittorio Emanuele, a large 19th-century public park.