Province of Catania facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Province of Catania Catania
Province
Country	Italy
Region	Sicily
Capital	Catania
Area
• Total	3,552 km2 (1,371 sq mi)
Population  (2005)
• Total	1,073,881
• Density	302/km2 (780/sq mi)
Postal Code	95100, 95010-95049
Telephone prefix	095, 0942, 0933
ISTAT	087
Vehicle registration	CT
No. of communes	58

The Province of Catania was a special area in Sicily, a large island in southern Italy. Its main city was Catania. Think of it like a big county or region. This province existed until August 4, 2015, when it became the Metropolitan City of Catania.

Mount Etna is located in the Province of Catania

Panorama of Vizzini on the slopes of Monte Lauro

A close-up of Aci Castello, in the Province of Catania

The traditional Festival of Saint Agata takes place in Catania in the first five days of February. It is one of the biggest festivals in Italy.

Skiing at Etna Nord- Linguaglossa ski resort.

The Carnival of Acireale is the most famous in Sicily.

A Look Back: History of Catania Province

The Province of Catania has a very long and interesting history. It was first started by the ancient Greeks in 729 BC. Later, the Romans took control of the area in 263 BC during the First Punic War.

Living with Mount Etna

The province has always been shaped by Mount Etna. This is Europe's largest active volcano. The first eruption recorded happened way back in 475 BC.

The area has also faced powerful earthquakes. In 1169, a huge earthquake hit, causing about 15,000 deaths in the city of Catania alone. Another big event was a volcanic eruption in 1669, which killed around 17,000 people in Catania. In 1693, another earthquake struck, leading to the deaths of about 12,000 people. This was a large part of the population at that time.

Where is Catania Province?

The Province of Catania was one of nine provinces on the island of Sicily. Sicily is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.

Borders and Neighbors

The province touched the Ionian Sea on its northeast side. To the west, it shared borders with the Province of Caltanissetta and the Province of Enna. The Province of Ragusa and the Province of Siracusa were to the south. To the north, it bordered the Province of Messina.

The Capital City

The main city and capital of the province was Catania. It was also the largest community in the area.