Hostels in CATANIA, ITALY

City Catania – The Baroque City of Sicily in Italy

Located on the east coast of Sicily, the city of Catania is the tenth largest city in Italy and the second largest in Sicily. For tourists, the city has everything from baroque architecture landmarks to volcano trekking and a superb nightlife. Hence, Catania is a preferred vacation spot for the tourists in huge number.

Accommodation Options
Accommodations in Catania are available in the form of luxury and budget hotels. The historical centre and downtown area of the city accommodates some of the best accommodations in Catania. Bed and breakfast, youth hostel, guesthouse facilities, budget hotels, farmhouse accommodations and resorts are also available. Apart from clean atmosphere, the accommodations also offer AC, balcony, attached bathrooms and many other facilities.

Some people can be seen talking in the old Sicilian language. Italian and English are among the most common languages spoken in the city.

History
Catania is believed to be a Greek colony, initially named as Katane. Originally founded by the Siculi, the city was colonized by the Greek people called Chalcidians in 729 BC. The prosperity of the city began in 263 BC after it was captured by the Romans. The city was consecutively seized by the Vandals, the Eastern Roman Empire, the Islamic emirate of Sicily and others, before it came under the Spanish Empire in the 16th century. It became a part of the unified Italy in the 19th century. The city also has a long history of getting influenced by volcanic eruptions and earthquakes.

Popular Places
One of the popular spots of the city is u Liotru, an ancient lavic stone elephant that also serves as the symbol of the city. Mount Etna and the Elephant Fountain are other interesting sites to visit. However, the most interesting part of the city is its landmarks constructed in the baroque architectural style. The Norman Cathedral, San Placido, Piazza Stesicoro, Teatro Massimo, Castello Ursino and numerous churches in the city require you to spend more than few days in the city.

Getting Around
The public transport consists of buses and train line. You can also prefer a taxi or a car on rent to conveniently drive to the places of interest. To visit the most interesting places on a short tour, you can prefer to have a guide with you. 

Places of Entertainment
The sandy beaches of La Plaja can be visited to have some great moments. Volcano trek to the top of the Mount Etna is another entertaining activity. The food and fish market organized near the Piazza del Duomo can allow you to have a wonderful experience. The clubs in the city offer Italian drinks, live jazz and Sicilian music and a wonderful nightlife. One can also enjoy Sicilian specialties like Arancino and cannoli alla ricotta at various restaurants in the city.  

Currency
Euro is the official currency of Catania. ATMs and currency exchange points are easy to spot in the city. Make sure you learn about cash withdrawal charges and currency exchange rates from the online news.

Catania group accommodation | Cheap hostels & budget hotels