Catania holidays

Catania Sicily's second largest city, Catania has a population of around 300,000 and lies along the shores of the Ionian Sea, under the shadow of Mount Etna, or "A Muntagna" as the volcano is known locally. An ever-present, Mount Etna has shaped the history and architecture of the city, destroying it on several occasions through volcanic eruptions and earthquakes. The most dramatic of these were during the 17th century where an eruption in 1669 covered parts of Catania in lava before a huge quake in 1693 levelled most of the city. Most of the beautiful old town was rebuilt in Baroque style after these catastrophes, with large, wide open squares and avenues, using the plentiful stone from previous eruptions.