Altair, Catania

Advantages: good place
Disadvantages: petty crime

...Catania is the second major city in Sicily after Palermo. There is a common say, that it is easier to do business in catania than Palermo. Although in my experience the 2 cities are very similar under this respect, I would not necessarily disagree with this statement. An interesting place to visit is Castello di Ursino, (Ursino castle). Located in Piazza Federico di Svevia, at the end of Via Auteri between Via Plebiscito and Via Garibaldi, it used to be a coastal fortress. Later, vulcanic eruptions expanded the coastline, and if you go there, you can deem by yourself the extent of this expansion! Another place worth visiting is the cathedral (Duomo), which goes back to 1090. A word of caution for tourists, there are not too many restaurants in the centre of the town. If you have the time, try and go to Taormina, a beautiful place... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: Great area
Disadvantages: Expensive

...6 Month ago i went out to Catania i was liveing there for 6 months. Catania is a bright place with lots of thing to do. its a wonderfull place to see the seaside is clean the people are very plesent there and its so hot. the nightlife there start around midnight people go down to the bars and eat icecream, got to the seaside. The italians when they go out they go out in a group and talk. the food there is very healthy the fish is something you have never tryed belive everything is home made which is really nice. The only ploblem there are the roads the cars will not stop for you,you have to just walk out and years ago when i went to italy it was cheap now the price is gone up. thanks i did not want ot write too much.... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: The Volcano, the food, the black beach
Disadvantages: the horse meat stall in the market (don't buy anything from a butchers with a cute photo of a horse outside!_

...Catania lies on the eastern coast of Sicily and is, historically and culturally a part of the 'Greek' part of the Island (as opposed to the arabic West of Sicily). The most striking thing about the city is the constantly puffing, and frequently erupting volcano which colours (sometimes quite literally) the city in a magical manner. Some people don't have the temperament for Sicily, the cities here don't have the manicured edges of Tuscany or the Emilian hills, but can provide far more beauty and exhiliration than any other part of Italy. So Catania itself takes a little getting used to. It doesn't have the beauty of Syracuse and Palermo probably has more immediate attractions in it. It has a fine Sicilian Baroque architectural style, best seen around the Piazza del Duomo with it's famous elephant statue - the symbol of the city... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful