Acireale
The metropolitan city of Catania
Hello everyone! Today we'll talk about the metropolitan city of Catania, a beautiful territory located in Sicily with a population of over one million inhabitants. The metropolitan city includes the 58 municipalities of the former Province of Catania and is the sixth metropolitan city in Italy by population.
Geography
The territory is characterized by suggestive and varied landscapes, including the Plain of Catania, the largest plain in Sicily, and Mount Etna, the highest active volcano in Europe with 3,343 meters above sea level. The metropolitan city hosts one of the largest hydrographic basins on the island, consisting of important rivers such as the Simeto, the Salso, the Dittaino, and the Gornalunga.
To the north, the border is marked by the Alcantara river, while to the south it borders the free communal consortia of Ragusa and Syracuse. The metropolitan city includes several historically distinct areas, such as Acese, the Jonian-Etna coast, Calatino, the western Etna area, and the metropolitan area of Catania.
UNESCO World Heritage sites and the Feast of Saint Agatha
The metropolitan city of Catania hosts three sites, namely the cities of Catania, Caltagirone, and Militello in Val di Catania, awarded the title of World Heritage by UNESCO in 2002 along with Val di Noto. Mount Etna also boasts the same title. Furthermore, the Feast of Saint Agatha is considered an "Ethno Anthropological Heritage" of the city of Catania.
Landscapes
If you want to explore the metropolitan city of Catania, you'll find yourself walking through a great variety of landscapes. The area around Mount Etna offers chestnut forests and shady pine groves, while the Plain of Catania is a vast plain alternating between desertic cliffs and fertile lands. In addition, the metropolitan city hosts an oriented nature reserve, La Timpa, located in the territory of Acireale, as well as the Fiume Fiumefreddo nature reserve.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the metropolitan city of Catania is a beautiful and suggestive area, characterized by varied landscapes and a wide cultural offer, such as the UNESCO World Heritage sites and the famous Feast of Saint Agatha. I recommend visiting this territory, which offers a mix of history, culture, and nature to discover. Thank you for reading my summary, I hope I made you want to visit the metropolitan city of Catania!
