The second largest city in Sicily by population, Catania is situated at the centre of the Ionian coast in eastern Sicily and extends from the sea to the low foothills of Etna, Europe's highest active volcano. Historically Catania has been the gateway to many cultures, which are represented by different architectural styles (e.g., baroque) and monuments (e.g., the Greek-Roman Theatre).The baroque style of the central part of Catania, rebuilt in the 18th century, has been recently inscribed in the World Heritage list by UNESCO. Due to its geographical position and history Catania represents a Mediterranean gate to Europe. Catania is the meeting point of the vast human and economic area of the Mediterranean, not just a confluence of economic interests but convergence and confrontation of cultures and civilisations. In recent years industry has created new areas dedicated to productive activity. The establishment of hi-tech multinationals has given the name of "Etna Valley" to the industrial area. The modern Catania has become well-known for its technological revolution. Sicily a land of great beauty but also a productive land with industrial districts, comprising SMEs with strong export potential and of a growing desire for internationalisation.

Catania is architecture, art and culture all in one. Every corner surprises you with Roman ruins, baroque vistas and Greek relics. For this reason the town was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Following one of the many routes, we meet the Benedettini monastery, one of the largest in Europe, and then Via Crocifery, a tiny street with the most beautiful baroque churches. But to take in the real Catania you have to start your route from Porta Uzeda that leads to Piazza Duomo, onward to Via Etnea, Piazza Università, to the Basilica Collegiata, all the way up to Piazza Stesicoro and the church of Saint Agata. A little further on you find Palazzo Biscari and Piazza Dante up at the end of a steep climb, with the churches of Saint Nicol and Jesuits.

Catania is the only city where you can set up a path by sounds. A blast of connecting and overlapping voices: Catania is a melodious construction of words and idioms, a melting pot of social stratifications and languages. To understand this you need only to go to Piazza Carlo Alberto, the marketplace, where sellers advertise any kind of food with bizarre souds and words. Sounds in Catania seem never to end, hundreds of pubs and live music clubs are everywhere. The town has always been considered one of the main Italian cities for rock and pop music and for the mingling of different musical genres. Catania is also popular for its cultural events including drama performances for all senses.

You can appreciate the town also by its flavours and tastes. Not too late in the morning, go to Pescheria the oldest fish marketplace, where the flavour of the fish dominates. You will get lost among the fresh fish stall and bouquet of Sicilian tomatoes, cheese, vegetables raisin biscuits, Paste di mandorla (almond pastries) and further of the flagrance of oil and capers, grapes and every kind of fruit and unique citrus such as Sicilian red oranges. The ambrosial path continues up to the Etna's feet where you can explore the inner working of vineyards and wineries and visit holiday farms scented with orange-blossoms, prickly pear and almond trees which even in winter remind you of a permanent spingtime. When you wake up in Catania you feel like plunging yourself in the delicious pastries of traditional confectionery. Moving through Catania's tastes you are inebriated by the unic flavour of marzipan, of arancini (fried balls of rice filled with different sauces) and of Sicilian cookery rich in fish and vegetables: a Mediterranean tastes in which different cookery cultures and quality products meet.

The journey trough Catania is also the exploration of Caltagirone's original ceramics, of Sicilian carts, of the skilful pupi (marionette) builders, Catania's stylists who are welcome on the world's most famous catwalks.

Catania is also a very good starting point for other tourist destinations in Sicily. Very close to the town are the villages of Acicastello and Acitrezza. In about one hour you can reach  Taormina,  Siracuse, Ragusa, Noto, Caltagirone, and other attractive places by train or by bus. Finally, Catania is connected by direct flights to the main cities of Italy.