Car rental Catania Airport

Once you’ve collected your rental car at Catania Airport, it’s a short drive into the city via the SS114 highway. Italy’s major highways are known as autostrade – these are toll roads, and are signposted in green, rather than blue - which is used for secondary roads.

Catania is linked to the Sicilian capital Palermo by Autostrada 19 (A19), a drive of around 200 kilometres. Meanwhile, the A18 links Catania to the harbour city of Messina, 100 kilometres away on the northeast coast.

You’ll be given a ticket at the entrance to the freeway and pay in cash at the toll booth – however, some booths allow you to pay by card. The A20, which runs along the north coast between Messina and Palermo, is also a toll road.

Like most other countries in Europe, drivers in Italy use the right-hand side of the road and using phones at the wheel is illegal. The speed limit on the autostrade is 130km/h and this falls to 110km/h on the highways.

In towns, the limit is usually 50km/h – unless signposted otherwise. Traffic is quite busy in the centre of Catania, and free car parking spaces can be difficult to find, so it’s recommended to use the many private parking facilities operating across town. Alternatively, use the public parking available near piazza Falcone-Borsellino.

Most of the roads around Sicily are in excellent condition, especially around the big cities such as Catania and Palermo. If you’re driving outside the cities it’s a good idea to plan your route in advance, as many road signs include only location names, rather than road numbers.

One useful tip is to look up the big towns beyond your destination, so you can make sure you’re heading in the right direction.

With pristine beaches, picturesque towns and shaded olive groves, Sicily is the perfect island getaway. Considered by many as the Crossroads of the Mediterranean, it boasts a rich history, with seven UNESCO World Heritage sites to explore. All its wonders are within easy reach when you rent a car at Catania Airport.

Atmospheric architecture 

Catania is Sicily’s second largest city, sitting in the looming shadows of Mount Etna. Start your exploration at Piazza del Duomo, the heart of the city and home to its emblem – the Fontana dell’Elefante, an elephant carved in lava stone and topped by a towering granite obelisk.

According to Sicilian legend, the statue holds the power to appease the anger of Mount Etna.

The piazza is also home to some of the city’s most important buildings, including the Baroque-style Catania Cathedral. Originally constructed in the late 11^th century, like many other buildings in the city, it’s been rebuilt several times following eruptions of Mount Etna.

Nearby you will find a Roman Amphitheatre, with its remains just visible in Piazza Stesicoro. Villa Bellini park and the adjoining Botanic Garden should also be on your list, along with the Palazzo Biscari, one of the most beautiful baroque palaces to be found anywhere in Italy.

Exploring the lava coast

No trip to Sicily is complete without visiting the beach. With car rental from Catania Airport, you’re perfectly placed to explore one of the island’s most spectacular stretches of coastline.

Running for 12 kilometres north of Catania from Acireale to Aci Castello, the Riviera dei Ciclopi is home to spectacular coastal landscapes, carved out over the years by the eruptions of Mount Etna. 

The name of this part of the coast comes from the legendary tale of the Cyclops throwing huge boulders into the sea to stop Odysseus escaping. Throughout this route you’ll see these towering black rocks made from solidified lava, some of them reaching up to 70 metres high.

There are several towns dotted along this stretch of coast, including Acireale, home to an impressive cathedral with a beautiful baroque interior, and Aci Trezza, where you can discover some of the island’s finest seafood cuisine in the numerous restaurants in town.

The friendly giant

With a hire car you can take the drive to Sicily’s most famous natural landmark – Mount Etna. Also known as Montebello, ‘the beautiful mountain’, this huge volcano has a base diameter of 40 kilometres and can be seen from well over half of the island on a clear day.

Etna is one of the most active volcanoes in Europe, but locals call it the friendly giant –

as eruptions in modern times have rarely been harmful. However, its frequent activity does mean the volcano and surrounding Etna National Park are sometimes closed to visitors.

In spring and summer, you can explore barren lava fields, woodland and vineyards. Or, if you’re visiting in the winter, you’ll find Etna’s snow-covered slopes are home to two of Sicily’s three ski resorts – a truly unique place to experience winter sports while on vacation.

No matter what time of year you visit, car rental from Catania Airport is the best way to take in Mount Etna and all the other attractions on this spectacular island.