Hidden Catania: a matryoshka of underground cities.

Especially in recent decades, our beloved Sicily has become the undisputed destination of national and international tourism and the reasons are really many. Certainly to mention the Mediterranean climate and our fantastic beaches of fine golden sand, the morphology and the innumerable wonders of the place that open the doors to different types of tourism: from city tourism, visiting the best known and main cities of the Sicilian territory, to the cultural one, visiting the places defined as World Heritage by UNESCO, to the food and wine one (how can we forget the Sicilian cuisine?) to the natural one, filling the days with excursions and walks in the secret and mysterious places of our sunny island.

And speaking of secret places, today we want to talk to you about Catania and the mysterious sites whose lifeblood still flows underground in the city. The keyword is exactly "underground" in this context. Catania has been repeatedly compared to a Phoenix because, like her, it was reborn from its own ashes, in this case 7 times. It literally embodies its past. A past that survived wars, earthquakes and eruptions and which still lives in the subsoil of the city today.

There are several underground cities, the result of a historical stratification that led to the construction of the eighteenth-century city on the ancient Greek and Roman remains. There are also numerous testimonies of its history inside the courtyards or alleys of the historic centre: in fact, from the experience of the Etna 'ngeniousa Cultural and Naturalistic Association was born Catania Sottoterra which invites you to discover the hidden city with personalised itineraries and specialised guides for experience the charm of a history of centuries and centuries that continues to live hidden from our eyes.

There are many places to visit between the underground and on the surface and equally numerous are the tours available which vary from 2 to 3, 4 hours based on the itinerary you want to follow. It can be pursued individually or in groups, from Monday to Saturday, in the morning and/or afternoon. Stages to mention are definitely:

• The Achillian Baths, a vast thermal complex from the 3rd - 4th century AD. originally made up of different environments. The only accessible one left is located under the Cathedral;
• The Cathedral of Sant'Agata, the heart of the city that boasts both Norman rigour and Baroque splendour. A history of destruction and reconstruction through the ages;
• The Well of Gammazita, hidden 12 metres below street level, which tells a fascinating legend full of love and freedom;
• The Putìa dell'Ostello, an evocative flowing cave inside which a branch of the ancient Amenano river is still visible which underground and mysterious winds its way under the historic centre of Catania.

Nerello Mascalese: Splendid country residence located on the slopes of the Etna volcano, very close to the characteristic town of Randazzo. With its 5 bedrooms, it is ready to welcome you whether you are with family or friends for a holiday of peace and quiet, detached from the chaos of the city. The residence has many shaded corners in which to relax and a delightful private swimming pool in which to cool off in the hottest hours and be able to observe the wonderful panorama over the hills of Eastern Sicily.

Buena Vista: Majestic and elegant private villa in one of the most sought-after cities by world tourism: Taormina. With its 3000 square meters of garden, get ready for a holiday in the colors of eastern Sicily, enjoy the quiet inside the wonderful Jacuzzi located on the terrace of the house to give you an unprecedented view of the sea and the bay of the city since always most praised by writers, philosophers and artists such as Goethe, Nietzsche and Klimt.

Borgo degli Aranci: In the village of Fiumefreddo, at the foot of Mount Etna and in front of the Ionian Sea, this spectacular residence is born, surrounded by citrus trees whose scent of oranges will delight your holidays. The residence is divided into three wonderful houses close to each other and surrounded by 11 hectares of land whose green lawn will lead you to the splendid swimming pool overlooking the gentle slope that naturally slopes towards the sea.

Viagrande: Luxurious villa with private pool located in Viagrande, on the south-eastern side of Etna. Furnished with taste and elegance but with a modern spirit, this splendid residence will give you moments of absolute quiet on its well-equipped and covered terrace or in its swimming pool immersed in the green of the English lawn and surrounded by Mediterranean plants.

Vecchia Dimora Resort: Wonderful residence that was born a few kilometers from the Etna Volcano Park, detached from the chaos of the city and the classic tourist circuits to give you the opportunity to breathe the pure and nostalgic Sicily of an aristocratic past. Villaetna is an aristocratic home that has been renovated with great taste and attention to detail to preserve its splendid Baroque architecture. With its fantastic private swimming pool surrounded by the green nature of eastern Sicily, it is ready to give you immense peace and tranquility but also an excellent starting point for exploring this delightful part of the island.