Katane
Catania is the capital and the second largest city in the region of Sicily, Italy. It is located on the eastern coast of the Sicilian Island, near the foot of Mount Etna, which is considered to be one of the most active volcanoes in the world. The city faces the Ionian Sea and is in between the cities of Syracuse and Messina.
Authors of ancient history agree that Catania was originally a Greek colony with the name Katane. It was formed from parts of Naxos, a neighbouring city, under the leadership of a man named Euarchos or Euarchus. The exact date of the city's foundation is uncertain but, according to the Greek historian, Thucydides, it was founded five years after Syracuse, or around 730 BC. Very little is known about this Greek period in Cartania's history. The only certain thing is that it was established by Charondas, a well- known Greek lawgiver.
During the First Punic War (264 to 241 BC), Cartania was among the first Sicilian cities to submit to the Roman Republic. Although it wasn't made into a confederate city by Rome, it still became a very prosperous city. It became one of the main ports in Sicily used for the exportation of corn. Several prominent people in history including Cicero, the famous Roman orator, and Strabo, a Greek philosopher, historian, and geographer, cited the city as one of the most prosperous during their times.
Cartania's history, as well as its geographic setting, has made it a desirable tourist destination. Throughout its recorded history, the city has been buried seven times by lava and other volcanic debris. Only a few ancient monuments and buildings, which are now major tourist attractions, have survived these volcanic disasters. These ancient structures include the Greek-Roman Theatre, created in the 2nd century; the Odeon, created during the third century; the Amphitheatre; the Greek Acropolis; the Roman Aqueduct's ruins; and the Roman Forum, among others.
The city is also known for its many cathedrals and historical churches. Some of the more popular cathedrals and churches include Saint Agatha's Cathedral, Saint Placid, Saint Joseph by the Dome, Saint Martin of the White Garbs, Saint Agatha the Eldest, and Saint Prison's Church among others. There are more than 100 sites in the city which prominently highlight the religion its people follow.
Other popular attractions in Cartania include Parks and Gardens as well as palaces, mansions and other non-historical buildings. The city's main park is the Villa Belini which was named after an Italian opera composer by the name of Vincenzo Salvatore Carmelo Francesco Bellini. The city also has street markets and fairs in some of its busiest sections. These include La Pescheria and La Fiera di Catania, or 'A Fera o' Luni'. 'Fera o' Luni' is translated in English as 'the Monday's Fair'. This was adopted from the fact the trades were used to be done on Mondays only. In the present, however, trades are held throughout the week.
Getting into Catania is no problem since it has both an international airport and a commercial seaport. Within the city, there is a central train station as well as some other underground stations. At present, there are still some railways which are still under construction. http://places.dictionary.net/catania
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catania
http://virtualexplorer.com.au/article/2010/222/ancient-harbour-catania
http://www.thinksicily.com/guide-to-sicily/towns-and-cities-in-sicily/catania.aspx
