On the east coast of Sicily lies the splendid city of Catania, the second largest on the island of Sicily. It has had an unfortunate history of violent earthquakes over the centuries that have forced its inhabitants to rebuild from scratch many times!
It has also been plagued by volcanic eruptions from the tallest volcanic in Europe that stands over it called Mount Etna! The worst one occurred in 1669 when the city was practically buried under a sea of molten lava and ash. Catania has been buried a record seventeen times under the outpouring of Mount Etna’s eruptions since the beginning of recorded history!
Catania has been uniquely rebuilt using hardened lava as the building material. This had lead to the nickname ’The Grey City’ because of all the new buildings that have been built from the extrusive igneous rock. Many would wonder why anyone would choose to live here, but if you come to visit, you’ll soon find out!
It has also been plagued by volcanic eruptions from the tallest volcanic in Europe that stands over it called Mount Etna! The worst one occurred in 1669 when the city was practically buried under a sea of molten lava and ash. Catania has been buried a record seventeen times under the outpouring of Mount Etna’s eruptions since the beginning of recorded history!
Catania has been uniquely rebuilt using hardened lava as the building material. This had lead to the nickname ’The Grey City’ because of all the new buildings that have been built from the extrusive igneous rock. Many would wonder why anyone would choose to live here, but if you come to visit, you’ll soon find out!
Catania has preserved a tremendous archive of history and culture despite its tumultuous past and is a worthwhile stop off on your next Italian holiday. Why not stay in a vacation villa in the Catania area for a few days while you explore this beautiful city?
Catania was founded in the 8th century BC and had a thriving agricultural economy because of the rich fertile soil that surrounded the volcanic Mount Etna. Acres of olive groves, vineyards and other vegetation grow extremely well here and have produced some of the finest wines and olive oil in all of Italy because of it!
History lovers will enjoy a trip to the Catanian museum of Mineralogy, Palaeontology and Volcanology to learn all about the fascinating history of the area from several perspectives. See an amazing display of the prehistoric remains of an extinct dwarf elephant; a species that once thrived in the area.
Catania was founded in the 8th century BC and had a thriving agricultural economy because of the rich fertile soil that surrounded the volcanic Mount Etna. Acres of olive groves, vineyards and other vegetation grow extremely well here and have produced some of the finest wines and olive oil in all of Italy because of it!
History lovers will enjoy a trip to the Catanian museum of Mineralogy, Palaeontology and Volcanology to learn all about the fascinating history of the area from several perspectives. See an amazing display of the prehistoric remains of an extinct dwarf elephant; a species that once thrived in the area.
Many experts believe the skulls of these dwarf elephants may have led the ancient Greek civilisation to believe in the existence of a mystical one eyed creature called Cyclops as it is over twice the size of a normal human skull with an enormous nasal cavity that may have been mistaken for an eye socket!
There are many places of interest to visit during a few days of tourist exploration; the grand Odeon theater, the ancient amphitheater and much more. There are also many museums, and beautifully built churches and palaces to admire along your tour of the city.
Try the famous local dish, Pasta all Norma which is made using small sized penne pasta stirred through a rich tomato sauce with sliced aubergines and salty ricotta cheese...it’s delicious! Horse meat is very popular as a street food snack, often cooked on burning coals to produce a rich smoky flavour.
Catania is bursting with so much to do and see, so be sure to include it in your discovery of the beautiful island of Sicily if you choose it as your next Italian holiday destination!
There are many places of interest to visit during a few days of tourist exploration; the grand Odeon theater, the ancient amphitheater and much more. There are also many museums, and beautifully built churches and palaces to admire along your tour of the city.
Try the famous local dish, Pasta all Norma which is made using small sized penne pasta stirred through a rich tomato sauce with sliced aubergines and salty ricotta cheese...it’s delicious! Horse meat is very popular as a street food snack, often cooked on burning coals to produce a rich smoky flavour.
Catania is bursting with so much to do and see, so be sure to include it in your discovery of the beautiful island of Sicily if you choose it as your next Italian holiday destination!
Photo credits
picture 1: Ben Aveling / CC BY-SA 3.0;
picture 2: MaxM / CC BY-SA 3.0;
picture 3: Paola Sersante / CC BY 2.0
picture 1: Ben Aveling / CC BY-SA 3.0;
picture 2: MaxM / CC BY-SA 3.0;
picture 3: Paola Sersante / CC BY 2.0