Catania

Catania (Greek: Κατάνη – Katánē; Latin: Catana and Catina; Arabic: Balad-al-Fil or Medinat-al-Fil, Wadi Musa and Qataniyah) is the second-largest city of Sicily, southern Italy, and is the capital of the province which bears its name.

With some 306,000 inhabitants (750,000 in the metropolitan area), it has the second highest population density on the island. The city's patron saint is Saint Agatha. Catania is located on the east coast of the island, halfway between Messina and Siracusa and is at the foot of the active volcano Mount Etna.

The city has been buried by lava a total of seven times in recorded history, and in layers under the present day city are the Roman city that preceded it, and the Greek city before that.

Many of the ancient monuments of the Roman city have been destroyed by the numerous earthquakes. Currently, remains of the following buildings can be seen:

The Theater (2nd century)

The Odeon (3rd century CE)

The Amphitheater (2nd century)

The Greek Acropolis of Mountvirgin's Hill (Collina di Montevergine)

The Roman Aqueduct's Ruins

The Roman Forum in Piazza San Pantaleone

Roman ruins in Cortile Archirotti

Several Christian basilicas, hypogea, Roman burial monuments and Catacombs in some urban areas.

The Roman Columns in Piazza Giuseppe Mazzini