Catania is a large city on the east coast of Sicily, situated at the foot of Mount Etna. It is the second largest city in Sicily, after Palermo. Catania can trace its roots back to the 8^th century BC but its location close to Mount Etna led to it being destroyed in 1169 by a catastrophic earthquake. Mount Etna is an active volcano and is the tallest in Europe. The most violent eruption to affect Catania was in 1669. The volcanic ash has created a rich and fertile soil and Catania’s vineyards produce some excellent wines.
Catania was the home of Sicily’s first university. During the Renaissance period, Catania became one of the leading centres in Italy for art, culture and politics. It led the way in economic and social development in the late 20^th century and earned the nickname “Europe’s Silicon Valley”. However, the economic downturn has recently resulted in some stagnation in its economy.
Visitors will enjoy the unique sights that Catania has to offer. Look for the lava stone elephant, the symbol of the city carved by Giovanni Battista Vaccarini. It is topped by an Egyptian obelisk and countless local legends surround this landmark.
For a history lesson dating back over 2000 years, the Archaeological Park of Catania has many different remains. Ancient edifices include the Greek-Roman Theatre of Catania, built in the 2^nd century, the 3^rd century Odeon, the magnificent amphitheatre near the Church of Saint Francis of Assisi, thermal baths and the Roman Aqueduct.