Catania is situated on the eastern coast of the island of Sicily at the foot of Mount Etna. It is the second largest city on the island; the city was destroyed back in 1169 by a terrible earthquake and was again hit in 1693. Volcanic eruptions from nearby Mount Etna, the most violent being in 1669, have also taken their toll on the city.
The climate here is warm to hot in summer and cool and wet in winter, the average daily temperature during August ranges from 25 degrees up to 32 degrees and in January this drops to between 10 degrees and 15 degrees, with the heaviest rainfall occurring during December and January, although October generally has the highest amount overall.
As with any Italian location there are plenty of historical places to visit and Catania is certainly no exception to this rule. It has a massive 94 churches and historical religious sites to explore along with roman structures, classical buildings, castles and palaces.
Classical buildings here include the Greek-Roman Theatre of Catania, which dates back to the 2nd century, Roman Aqueducts, Amphitheatres and the Odeon, which could hold up to 1500 people and dates back to the 3rd century. Roman thermal structures include the Achillean Baths, Baths of Four Quoins, the Terme della Rotonda and the Terme di Palazzo Asmundo.
Churches in the city include the Cathedral, which was originally built in 1070, and had to be rebuilt in 1693 after an earthquake. There is the Church of Sant'Agata la Vetere, which was built in 254, the Saint Francis of Assisi at the Immaculate comes from the 1300’s and it still houses the remains of Eleanor of Sicily. The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Ognina dates back to 1308 and the Church of the Santo Carcere or Sant'Agata al Carcere, which was built in 1760 and was where Saint Agatha is said to have been imprisoned during her time of martyrdom.
Other buildings include the Castello Ursino, which was built by Frederick the II in the 13th century, the Uzeda Gate and the impressive Medieval Gothic-Catalan Arch of Saint John of Friars. The Palazzo degli Elefanti was designed by Giovan Battista Vaccarini and today is home to the Town Hall. This city is full of history and fascinating buildings to explore, some in useable condition, others merely ruins of their former glory and of course we cannot forget the impressive sight of Mount Etna as she towers of the city.
Looking for self catering holiday accommodation in Catania? Then below is a selection of Apartments in Catania and villas in Catania that can be rented direct from their owners. You can either click on each listing for further details or you can use our search engine on the left if you are looking for something in particular.
