Surrounding Catania

The first of the three itineraries recomended to tourist leads, across the famous plain to Catania, to Caltagirone country of the most typical of sicilian crafts, ceramics. The second itinerary, leading to the sea, crosses two distinct and very different parts of the Catania Bay and the contrast it offers are typical of the natural beauty of Catania region.

To the south stretches a dazzling and boundless beach, La Plaja, which the simeto river fills with golden sand. To the north, the Riviera of the Cyclopes, with its cliffs of dark lava, offers incomparable beauty. The last itinerary leads to the Etna, <>, as the Catanese like to call it. This, the most important Volcano in Europe, has two characteristics wich make it unique both as a tourist centre and as a resort. First, the interest it holds as a volcano wich attracts not only scientist from all over the world desirous of studing the history of its eruptions over thousand years in its huge crater and on its corroted slopes, but also touristwho love exitements and new sensation. Secondly the attraction it offers as a winter resort, since Etna is one of the most interesting and original region in the Mediterranean for winter sports, with is maximum altitude of 3.335 meters, sky slope, dense woods, panoramic landscape (where wath is ugly is at the same time Beautiful) and excellent holte organization offering confort on the two slopes, the Nicolosi and the Linguaglossa one with important and modern ski-lifts facilities. Itsslopes are full of countless othercentres, all equally touristically interesting, among which: Trecastagni, Zafferana, Adrano, Randazzo and Ragalna. In the south, Vizzini, at 60 Km far fromCatania, i sone of the most importantstages of the Verghiano itinerary.

Interesting stages of a tourist itinerary towards Taormina are : Acitrezza, with the Faraglioni and the Lachea Island, Acicastello, Famous seaside resort, dominated by the scenic straight down the sea castle, and Acireale, at 15 Km far from Catania, harmonious village in its Baroque architecture and seat of an important thermal centre of Sicilian Region. Every year, here it "the most beautiful Carnival in Sicily" takes.