CATANIA Escorted Tours   Independent Hotel Stay       Hotel Prices Hotel Descriptions       Sightseeing Transfers Catania is the second biggest and most important town in Sicily. It extends between the Ionian Sea and the volcano Etna, the biggest European volcano still active today. History and culture Catania was built in 729 BC with the name Katane, that in the Sicilian language means grater. It was conquered by the Romans in 263 BC, which left some architectural ruins of the Augustan period. After the Byzantine domination there was the Arabic one and then the Norman supremacy, which brought many changes and innovations to the town, as the building of the Cathedral and of many monasteries. With the Aragonese the town had a period of economic recovery and cultural flourishing. In this period the first university of the island was born. The following Spanish domination and the earthquake in 1693 plunged this land into a serious economic crisis. This period was then followed by an important rebuilding campaign that had been going on also after the unity of Italy. The 19th century saw a flourishing period of cultural splendour for Catania, that involved the worldly, literary, music and theatre expressions. Historical buildings and monuments Elephant Fountain Cathedral (11 th cent.) Ursino Castle (1239-1250) Achilles Thermae Escorted Tours   Independent Hotel Stay       Hotel Prices Hotel Descriptions       Sightseeing Transfers © 2003 by Appianline << Back