scenic viewpoint
Torre del Filosofo (Etna Summit)
The high-altitude viewpoint near Mount Etna's summit craters offering surreal volcanic landscapes and sweeping Sicilian panoramas.
28 km · about 35 min drive
EuropeItalySicily
Catania
Sicily, Italy · Europe
About Catania
Catania is worth a stop: 10 minutes from Canalicchio, 30km from Mount Etna.
Catania is in Sicily, Italy, with about 310,000 people. You drive on the right here. The nearest town is Canalicchio, about 6 km away.
Where to Stay in Catania
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Catania?
Within an hour or so of Catania: Torre del Filosofo (Etna Summit) (28 km), Mount Etna (30 km), Giardini Naxos (41 km), Taormina (44 km).
Are there any good drives near Catania?
The nearest famous roads are Targa Florio Circuit (Madonie).
Where is Catania?
Catania is in Sicily, Italy, about 6 km from Canalicchio.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 311,584
- Continent
- Europe
- Country
- Italy
- Region
- Sicily
- Timezone
- Europe/Rome
- Coordinates
- 37.4922, 15.0704
Emergency & Services
Essential numbers in Italy
ACI roadside assistance: 803 116. ZTL (limited traffic zones) in city centres are camera-enforced.
Full driving guide for ItalyTags
Worth the detour from Catania
8 notable places within an hour's drive.
natural wonder
Mount Etna
Europe's tallest and most active volcano, rising 3,357 meters above eastern Sicily with frequent dramatic eruptions.
30 km · about 35 min drive
beach
Giardini Naxos
The site of the first Greek colony in Sicily, now a beach resort at the foot of Taormina with views of Mount Etna.
41 km · about 45 min drive
landmark
Taormina
A glamorous hilltop town in Sicily with an ancient Greek theater offering jaw-dropping views of Mount Etna and the Ionian Sea.
44 km · about 50 min drive
natural wonder
Gole dell'Alcantara
Basalt gorge near Etna where the cold Alcantara river cuts between 25-m walls of prismatic lava columns, like a Giant's Causeway turned canyon. Wade the icy river from the Motta Camastra entrance or view it from the free stairway.
44 km · about 50 min drive
ancient ruins
Teatro Antico di Taormina
A Greek-Roman theatre framing Mount Etna and the Ionian Sea, Sicily's most spectacular ancient stage.
45 km · about 50 min drive
ancient ruins
Syracuse
An ancient Sicilian city once rivaling Athens in power, with a stunning Baroque island center on Ortigia and vast Greek ruins.
50 km · about 60 min drive
landmark
Ortigia, Syracuse
The honey-stone island heart of ancient Syracuse, layering Greek temple, Baroque piazza and seafront in one.
52 km · about 60 min drive
Driving roads near Catania
- 28 kmTorre del Filosofo (Etna Summit)The high-altitude viewpoint near Mount Etna's summit craters offering surreal volcanic landscapes and sweeping Sicilian panoramas.
Driving in Italy
- Drives on
- the right
- Petrol
- ~€1.82/litre
- Motorway tolls
- ~€8.50/100km
When to drive here
April to October
Nearby Destinations
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