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It is one of the big Sicilian towns wich has incomparable privileges of tourist centre; it is, in fact, with its position at the slopes of the biggest active volcano in Europe, the starting point for all the winter activities and it has the rare privilege to allow the tourist, in the same season, the spring one, two activities, the winter-sports and the seaside one.
As regards its artistic and monumental heritage, whilst the architectonic remains of the Greek period are very rare (isodomic walls of the theatre), the Roman ones are remarkably wells preserved. The Greek Theatre and the odeon, the majestic Roman amphitheatre, the Rotonda church the Achilles spa , make way, in the century to Norman Monuments, among which are The Apse and some in the interior of the Cathedral, the Swabiam Castle named Ursino, and to the splendour of the baroque, harmoniously expressed in Crociferi Street, in the Biscari and St. Demetrus Palaces, in the monastery and church of the Benedictines, in the Garibaldi Gate, in the harmoniously designed Elephant square. Particularly worthy of a visit are the churches of Catania, nearly all of which are in the Baroque style, which enclose decorations, frescoes and paintings of great artistic value.
Among the greatest, the Duomo, ereted in 1092 and rebuilt after the terrifying earthquake of 1693; of St. Benedit, St. Julian, of the Jesuites, of the monastery of St. Agata, of the Collegiate church, of St. nicholas of Rena, of St. Mary of Jesus. For those who are fond of music, there is the nineteenth century Teatro Massimo Bellini, where concerts and classical dance alternate to opera, in repertoire that, for preparation and artist, is not second to the Scala in Milano, the San Carlo in Napoli or the Massimo in Palermo.
An important moment for local life is the traditional feast of S. Agata, patron of Catania. The town also offers cultural spaces of interest, as the recently restored complex
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