Planning a trip to Catania
Catania was rebuilt using antiseismic measures. Its major boulevards were made straight and wide, virtually eliminating anything that had existed from medieval Catania. Broad piazzas punctuate many streets. The aim was to make streets wide enough to allow Catanians to escape in case lava flows through the streets again.
In recent years, unchecked growth has sent Catania crawling up the southern slopes of the ferocious Etna and sprawling across the fertile lands of the Simeto River.
The old center of the city is the Piazza Duomo, with the fountain of the ancient elephant. Splitting Catania in two parts is its main street, Via Vittorio Emanuele II, which begins east at Piazza del Martini running west past Piazza Duomo.
Running on a north-south axis, Via Etnea is the grand boulevard of Catania that runs north from Piazza Duomo for 3km (2 miles). Along this avenue are the best restaurants and boutiques. Eventually Via Etnea reaches Villa Bellini, the beautiful public gardens.
In western Catania, Via Crociferi is the city's gracious street of the baroque, flanked by churches and palazzi.
Getting Around
By Bus
AMT (Azienda Municipale Trasporti), Via Plebiscito 747 (tel. 095-7519111; www.amt.ct.it), operates a good network of buses, branching out across the city. Tickets are valid for 90 minutes; day tickets for multiple rides are also available. You can purchase tickets at tabacchi (tobacco shops), news agents, and AMT kiosks. Tip: If you take circular bus no. 410, you'll be treated to a round-trip of all the major sightseeing attractions for the cost of a one-way fare.
By Metro
The very limited subway system -- with only six stations it is the shortest metro system in the world -- has trains running every 15 to 30 minutes daily from 7am to 8:45pm. Tickets are valid for 90 minutes. Metro tickets, like bus tickets, are available from newsagents and tobacco shops. The metro runs from Stazione Centrale at Platform 11 south to Catania Porto and north and northwest all the way to Catania Borgo, the terminus for the Stazione Circumetnea via Caronda 490. Tip: Don't count on buying tickets at the station from automatic vendors, which are often out of service.
By Taxi
Radio Taxi Catania (tel. 095-330966) operates 24-hour taxi service. Taxi ranks are found at the Stazione Centrale and Piazza Duomo.
Getting There
By Plane
Flights from mainland Italy and from the U.K. arrive at Italy's third largest airport, Aeroporto Vincenzo Bellini at Fontanarossa (tel. 095-7239111; www.aeroporto.catania.it), 7km (4 miles) from the city center. For information about which carriers fly into Catania,
From the airport, AMT city bus no. 457 (also known as Alibus; tel. 800-018696; www.amt.ct.it) runs into town every 20 minutes, with stops at Piazza Stesicoro and the Central Station. Another line, no. 524, makes stops along Via Dusmet and at Piazza Borsellino. T
You can catch a taxi outside the arrivals hall, or book one at Radio Taxi Catania (tel. 095-330966; www.radiotaxi.org). The bus will be far less expensive. Tip: Always negotiate the fare before getting in.
By Train
Arrivals are at the Stazione Centrale, Piazza Papa Giovanni XXIII (tel. 892021; www.trenitalia.it). Trains arrive daily from Turin, Venice, Milan, Bologna, Florence, Rome, and Naples, though not all are direct. Catania also has good, direct rail links to cities all over the east coast of Sicily (Messina, Taormina, Syracuse) and has good connections to other cities such as Ragusa and Noto. Train rides to cities like Palermo or Agrigento, to the west, can take 3 to 4 hours long and involve some transfers.
By Bus
There is a direct bus service to Catania from Rome and other northern cities, but unless you really want to be sitting for 12 hours in crammed quarters with limited leg room, I highly discourage it. SAIS Trasporti (tel. 091-6166028; www.saistrasporti.it) runs a daily service from Rome's Tiburtina station. Etna Trasporti (tel. 095-530396; www.etnatrasporti.it) runs a service from Milan, Pisa, and Rome's Tiburtina station to Catania, with the journey from Milan taking nearly 18 hours.
By Boat
Ferry service to Catania from Civitavecchia the service is handled by Grimaldi Lines (tel. 081-496444; www.grimaldi-lines.com). it is an excellent alternatives to driving all the way to Catania from the mainland, as you can board the car onto the ferry and relax the rest of the way.
By Car
There are two national autostrade that link Catania to the rest of the island: from Messina, which will probably be your gateway into Sicily, take the A18 south, passing Taormina and continuing on to Catania. From Palermo, you can take the A19. From Syracuse, take the national highway SS114 northbound.
Fast Facts
Books -- La Feltrinelli, Via Etna 283, carries English-language bestsellers and classics.
Emergencies -- For the police, dial tel. 112; the Carabinieri (army police corps) can be reached at tel. 113. For an ambulance, dial tel. 118; to report a fire, tel. 115. For road assistance, call ACI (Italian Automobile Club) at tel. 803116 or toll-free tel. 800-116800.
Hospitals -- The major hospital is Garibaldi, Piazza Santa Maria del Gesù (tel. 095-7591111), while the Ospedale Cannizzaro is at Via Messina 829 (tel. 095-7261111). The Children's Hospital is within the Policlinico, Via Santa Sofia 78 (tel. 095-743 1111).
Pharmacies -- Farmacia Consoli is on Via Etnea 400, the Farmacia Centrale at Via Etnea 400, and the Farmacia Crocerossa on Via Etnea 274. One night pharmacy is Croceverde, on Via Ruggero Settimo 43 (tel. 095-441868), open 24 hours.
