Overview
The city of Catania is located on the eastern coast of Sicily, Italy.
It is the second-largest city in Sicily and serves as a major transportation hub.
Catania is known for its Baroque architecture, including the famous Elephant Fountain and the Catania Cathedral.
The city is also situated at the foot of Mount Etna, an active volcano, offering stunning natural scenery and opportunities for outdoor activities.
The larger Catania metropolitan area comprises 58 towns (comuni) and covers an area of 3.553 km2.
The population density is 310 inhabitants per km2, making it somewhat densely populated.
The male to female ratio is 1.00:1.06.
Catania is a city of 310,000 people (2019) on the eastern coast of Sicily at the foot of Mount Etna, the biggest volcano in Europe.
It is the second largest city in Sicily with the metropolitan area reaching one million inhabitants, a major transport hub, economic centre and a university city where you will enjoy a busy downtown and an active nightlife.
Catania is also well known for its particular baroque architecture and urban design (the downtown area is a World Heritage Site, along with all the Val di Noto area), consequences of the great earthquake of 1693 after which the city had to be rebuilt, like most of eastern Sicily.
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Climate
The province of Catania receives on average 264 hours of sunshine per month, or 8.8 hours of sunshine per day.NaN This is 11.86% more than the average for Italy and 1.67% more than the average for the region of Sicily.Throughout the year, it rains on average 6.71 days per month, which is below average for an Italian province.
During the autumn and winter season, there are usually 0.73 days per month with fog and 0 cold days per month with perceived temperatures below 3°C.
In the summer, there are on average 22.75 hot days per month with perceived temperatures above 30°C.
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name Region.NameCost of Living
The average monthly income in Catania is around 1380.75€, which is lower than the average for Italy.The estimated cost of living is around 1359.71€ per month for an individual or 2041.67€ per month for a family of 4.
The cost for renting a small apartment (2-3 bedrooms) in a main city area is around 677.34€ per month.
Overall, Catania is affordable compared to other Italian provinces.
Living in Catania is around 17.60% cheaper than the average of all Italian provinces.
Quality of Life
Healthcare
Healthcare in Catania is above average. For every 10k inhabitants, there are around undefined pharmacies, 9.5 general practitioners and 36.7 specialized doctors per 10k inhabitants.NaNAverage life expectancy in Catania is 81.4 years of age.
Education
Catania has a lower-than-average percentage of high school graduates, around 52.8%; and a lower-than-average percentage of university graduates, around 18.6%.NaN The average number of completed years of schooling for people over 25 is 10.09, which is not far from the national average of 10.44.NaN There is one university in the province.
Leisure
Catania is known for its vibrant and energetic nightlife, often referred to as 'movida' in Italian.The city offers a wide range of bars, clubs, and entertainment venues that cater to diverse tastes and preferences.
Visitors can enjoy live music performances, DJ sets, and a lively atmosphere that lasts until the early hours of the morning.
Catania's nightlife scene is characterized by its energetic vibe, bustling streets, and a mix of locals and tourists enjoying the city's vibrant social scene.
Overall, Catania has pretty good nightlife with 1.78 bars and 3.23 restaurants per 10k inhabitants.
Crime and Safety
The province of Catania is overall less safe than other Italian provinces for expats.As of 2021, there are an average of 3302.7 reported crimes per 100k inhabitants.
This is 16.47% higher than the national average.
There have been around 0.6 deadly road accidents and 15.9 serious work-related injuries per 10k people in Catania.
This is respectively 11.11% more driving accidents than average and -23.26% less work accidents than average.
Car theft is reportedly 458.16% higher than average with 393.67 cases per 100k inhabitants.
NaNReports of house thefts are 19.39% lower than average with 141.09 cases per 100k inhabitants.
NaNCases of robbery are not totally uncommon, around 106.82% higher than average with 45.79 reports per 100k inhabitants.
Catania prioritizes safety and offers a secure environment for residents and visitors.
The city maintains a relatively low crime rate, including a low murder rate, ensuring a peaceful experience for tourists.
While instances of petty theft and pickpocketing may occur, they are infrequent.
However, it's important to be aware of the historical presence of organized crime, particularly the notorious mafia group 'Cosa Nostra,' in Sicily, including Catania.
The influence of the mafia in Catania has significantly diminished over the years, and their criminal activities are primarily focused on internal affairs.
These activities are generally not targeted at tourists or visitors. Catania has implemented effective safety measures, including a visible police presence, to ensure the well-being of its residents and tourists.
Road accidents are relatively uncommon, but it is still advisable to drive responsibly and adhere to traffic regulations.
Transport
Public transport in Catania is quite good, and traffic is very high.NaNThere are on average 0.78 active vehicles per person, against a national average of 0.66.
The city of Catania is one of the very few places in Italy with an urban metro system, the Metropolitana di Catania.
Around 0.22km per 10k inhabitants of the main city in Catania consist of bicycle lanes.
This makes Catania not very bike-friendly.
Catania has a compact centre and it is most convenient just to walk around.
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Recommended Tours in Catania
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