Feast of Saint Agatha in Catania
Catania
Catania: feasts and traditions
Eastern Sicily, province of Catania
Catania began as a Greek colony: according to tradition it was founded in 729-728 BC by settlers from Naxos, who called it Katane. Under Rome it became an Augustan colony, and over the centuries it has lived in the shadow of Mount Etna, whose lava flow reached the city in 1669.
The earthquake of 1693 destroyed most of Catania, which was rebuilt in Baroque style, partly to designs by the architect Giovanni Battista Vaccarini. Since 2002 its historic center has been part of the UNESCO World Heritage site of the Late Baroque Towns of the Val di Noto. The heart of the city is Piazza Duomo, with the Elephant Fountain, known locally as "'u liotru" and the symbol of Catania, the cathedral and, just steps away, the fish market (Pescheria).
The city's patron saint is Agatha, a young woman from Catania martyred in 251. Her feast, from 3 to 5 February, is the event that brings Catania together like no other.
Festivals in Catania
Getting to Catania
| Airport | Distance | By car |
|---|---|---|
| Catania Airport (CTA) | 5 km | 15 min |
| Comiso Airport (CIY) | 90 km | 1 h 20 min |
| Palermo Airport (PMO) | 240 km | 2 h 30 min |
| Trapani Airport (TPS) | 304 km | 3 h 47 min |
By plane
Catania Fontanarossa Airport is about 5 km from the city center. The AMTS Alibus shuttle connects the airport with the center and the central train station.
By car
From Palermo take the A19 motorway, from Messina the A18. In the center it's best to leave the car and get around on foot or by public transport.
By train
Catania Centrale station, on Piazza Papa Giovanni XXIII, is on the Messina-Syracuse and Palermo-Catania lines. The Giovanni XXIII metro stop is right outside.
By bus
Intercity buses run by AST, SAIS and Interbus terminate in the area around Catania Centrale station.