The Catania Metro operates as a single-line transport system over a length of approximately 9 km. The metro consists of 11 stations with departures every 10 minutes. A full journey through all stations takes approximately 14 minutes. A standard ticket, which costs €1, allows for a journey of up to 90 minutes. The metro runs from Monday to Saturday, from around 6.40am to 9.00pm, with services suspended on Sundays and public holidays. The metro doesn’t serve the airport directly, but connections can be made via the local bus service.
The system is also known as the Metropolitana. It serves around 1,600 passengers a day. Fares are set at €1. Unfortunately, the system doesn’t operate 24 hours a day and has no air conditioning. It is not possible to walk between platforms and the trains are not driverless.
There are no screen doors on the platforms. The service is operated by FCE. The timetable is from 7:00 to 20:45 from Monday to Sunday. The fare is €1.
For more information, please refer to the Catania Metro Official Website. They can also be contacted at +39 095 541 111.
Metro map of Catania
Map of Catania Metro showing different lines. Click on the map to enlarge it.
The Metro in Catania, Italy
Located on the east coast of Italy, Catania is the second largest city in Sicily and the sixth most populous in the country, with a metropolitan area population of approximately 1.7 million. With origins dating back to the 8th century BC, Catania has a rich history and culture, having been destroyed seven times by volcanic eruptions and earthquakes.
In terms of infrastructure, Catania boasts well-designed trains and roads. The city’s rapid population growth in recent decades led experts in the late 1970s to stress the need for a comprehensive public transport system.
Construction of the metro, called the “Metropolitana di Catania”, began in 1986. It continued until 1991, when the last obstacle, a tunnel blocking the entrance to the city, was demolished. The metro was inaugurated in 1999 with the opening of six stations, providing transport to the Borgo district with Oporto. Despite some challenges during construction, the metro has since been extended to serve the city centre in the new millennium. Plans for further expansion and modernisation are underway.
Lines and Stations
The Catania metro consists of a single line with a junction at Galatea station, which leads to the port. Currently, the metro has 11 stations, covering a distance of 8.82 kilometres. Despite its relatively short network – it takes only 14 minutes to travel the entire metro network from end to end – the metro has a daily ridership of around 6,000 passengers and an annual ridership of 704,000 passengers. Trains run approximately every 10 minutes.
Stations
Nesima: Nesima station, which serves the neighbourhood of the same name, was inaugurated on 30 March 2017. This underground station has three exits, four escalators and two lifts for people with disabilities. Nearby attractions include the Nesima Sports Complex, San Pío X Church and several school buildings.
San Nullo: Opened on the same day as Nesima station, San Nullo station is located in the neighbourhood of the same name, between Antonio Merlino and Sebastiano Catania streets and Antoniotto Usodimare Avenue. It has four entrances, two escalators, two lifts for disabled people and a CCTV camera network for security.
Cibali: Cibali station is located in the neighbourhood of the same name, between the streets of Galermo and Bergamo. It provides connections with bus services to and from Catania city centre. Nearby attractions include the Angelo Massimino stadium, the historic Faculty of Agriculture of the University of Catania and the “Principe Umberto” school.
Milo: Located in the Borgo district, Milo station has four entrances, two escalators, two lifts and access to a large car park. It is connected to the BRT 1 bus line, which serves the northern part of the university area and various university faculties.
Borgo: One of the original stations, Borgo station was opened in 1999 and provides access to several places of interest, such as the Vincenzo Bellini Music Institute, the Institute for the Visually Impaired, the Botanical Garden and the Gioeni Park.
Giuffrida: Opened in 1999, Giuffrida station is centrally located and provides access to offices, educational institutions, banks and various shops. The Workplace Tribunal, Falcone Park and Vulcania Park are nearby.
Italia: Also one of the original stations opened in 1999, Italia station offers convenient access to important landmarks such as the Court of Justice, the District Court, the Administrative Court for the Education Office, the Science Palace and the headquarters of the Faculties of Geology and Economics of the University of Catania.
Galatea: Another original station, Galatea is the only Catania subway station with a railway junction, providing access to both Porto and Giovanni XXIII.
Porto: Situated near the port of Catania, Porto station was the terminus of the Circumetnea railway before being reopened in 1999 as the terminal of the Metropolitana di Catania.
Giovanni XXIII: Giovanni XXIII station, opened in 2016, is the largest station of the Catania Metro. It has escalators and lifts for people with disabilities.
Stesicoro: Like Giovanni XXIII station, Stesicoro station was also opened in 2016. Currently a metro terminal, Stesicoro will cease to be a terminal once the San Domenico station is built. This station is located in the centre of Catania and is characterised by its white and grey colour scheme.
Fares
The Catania Metro operates on a time-based ticketing system rather than single journey tickets. Tickets can be purchased from vending machines at each of the 11 stations or from ticket offices and authorised kiosks. Current ticket options include
- Biglietto A Tempo: This ticket allows unlimited travel on the metro for 90 minutes and costs €1.
- Biglietto Giornaliero: This ticket allows unlimited travel throughout the day and costs €2.
- Biglietto Integrato Bus: This ticket costs €1.2 and allows unlimited travel on the metro and city buses for 120 minutes.
- Abbonamento Mensile: This monthly pass allows unlimited travel for a whole month and costs €12.
Children under the age of six, people over the age of 65 and people with disabilities can use the metro for free.
Schedule
The Catania Metro operates from Monday to Saturday and is closed on Sundays and public holidays. From morning until 15:15, trains leave every 10 minutes. After 15.15 until the end of the day, the frequency increases to every 15 minutes. Stations may be closed on public holidays or for special events, and these changes will be announced in advance by Metro staff.
The first train of the day leaves the Nesima terminal at 6:40 and the first train leaves Stesicoro at 7:00. At the end of the day, the last train leaves Nesima at 20:45 and the last train leaves Stesicoro at 21:10.
Connections
Each metro station has connections to various bus lines and the Circumetnea train. Here are the connections available at each station:
Nesima: At Nesima station, passengers can transfer to the Circumetnea Railway at a surface station also called Nesima. There are also connections with bus lines 522, 621, 628N, 628R, 642, 702 and 932.
San Nullo: From San Nullo station there are connections with bus lines 642, 733, 702, 628N and 628R, operated by AMT.
Milo: At Milo station there are connections with two bus lines, BRT1 and 740. The station also has a car park for the convenience of commuters.
Borgo: Borgo station provides a connection to the Circumetnea railway at the Catania Borgo surface station. An adjacent bus station serves both urban and interurban buses. Urban bus lines include 1, 4, 429, 432, 449, 536, 556, 744 and BRT1. Interurban bus lines AST, FCE and Etna Trasporti provide transport to the outskirts of the city.
Italia: The Italia station provides connections with the 534, 935, 443, 530, 628N, 628R, 722, 431N and 431R bus services. Transfers to suburban buses operated by AST, FCE, Etna Trasporti and ISEA are also available.
Galatea: Galatea train station is located 500 metres from Circumetnea train station. There are also connections with bus lines 443, S2, 530, 534 and 935.
Porto: The railway station of Porto has direct connections with the port of Catania and offers connections with interurban buses that go to Misterbianco, Motta Sant’Anastasia, Piano Tavola, Paternò and Adrano.
Giovanni XXIII: Giovanni XXIII station offers a wide range of transfer services, including connections with the following urban bus lines: ¼, 2/5, 4/7, 429, 431N, 431R, 432, 439, 443, 448, 449, 530, 534, 536, 556, 628N, 628R, 925, 927, 932, ALIBUS, L-EX and S2. It is also possible to reach the interurban bus lines of AST, SAIS, Baltour and Eurolines, which operate throughout Italy and other European countries. Passengers can also change to the Circumetnea train at Catania Centrale station.
Stesicoro: Stesicoro station, thanks to its location, has connections with many urban bus lines, including 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 429, 432, 448, 449, 534, 536, 556, 902, 927, 935 and ALIBUS. It is also connected to the 702, 722, 726, 733, 740, 744, 621, 902, 925, 927, 932 and 935 bus lines.
Rules
Restrictions:
- Smoking is strictly prohibited in the Metro.
- Begging is not allowed in Metro stations or trains.
- It is not allowed to disturb or distract the Metro staff.
- It is forbidden to occupy more than one seat at a time on Metro trains.
- All emergency equipment must be used only in emergency situations.
- It is forbidden to throw litter on the tracks.
- It is forbidden to distribute leaflets or any other form of advertising in the facilities of the metro without prior authorisation.
- Assaulting other metro passengers is strictly forbidden.
- If you wish to listen to music, you must use headphones so as not to disturb other passengers.
- Carrying dangerous or hazardous materials is prohibited and will result in denial of access to the metro facilities.
- Proper footwear is required to enter metro stations.
- Consumption of alcoholic beverages is not permitted in the Metro facilities.
- Passengers must not enter areas reserved for Metropolitana di Catania staff.
Tips
- Take care when boarding the train, as there is a gap between the platform and the train that could cause you to fall.
- If you are waiting on the platform, stand to the side of the train doors when the train arrives to allow departing passengers to disembark first.
- Do not attempt to board or disembark the train once the doors begin to close.
- Do not attempt to disembark once the train has started moving.
- Move towards the train doors as you approach your destination.
- Avoid leaning against the train doors.
Pets: Small pets are allowed on the Metropolitana di Catania provided they are kept on a lead. This is to ensure that your pet does not disturb other passengers.
Infants: Children under the age of six can travel free of charge provided they are accompanied by a guardian and sit on the guardian’s lap.
Bicycle transport: Passengers can transport their bicycles on the Catania Metro. A valid ticket is required. Bicycles are allowed from Monday to Friday from 9.00 am to 12.00 pm and again after 15.00 pm. On Saturdays, bicycles are allowed in the metro all day.
Connection to the airport
The Metropolitana di Catania does not have a direct service to Catania-Fontanarossa Airport, but passengers can reach the airport from the centre of Catania by bus. First, passengers need to get on the metro and head towards Giovanni XXIII station (also known as Catania Centrale). On leaving the station, passengers will find several bus lines. The Alibus bus leaves every 20 to 30 minutes and takes about 25 minutes to reach the airport. The fare is €4.
To get from Catania-Fontanarossa airport to Catania city centre, passengers must leave the airport and wait for the Alibus buses. These buses serve many areas of the city and passengers can make transfers to other metro stations if they wish.
Future expansions
The company that manages the Catania metro is currently working to extend the network and add five new stations, including
Fontana: Scheduled to open in early 2018, Fontana will be located on Felice Fontana Avenue, near the Garibaldi-Nesima hospital complex. It will have a car park with space for 850 vehicles.
Monte Po: Monte Po, scheduled to open in the first half of 2018, will be located at the intersection of the SS121 roundabout and the beginning of Corso Carlo Marx Avenue. The station takes its name from the nearby Monte Po district.
San Domenico: San Domenico station will be located at the intersection of Reclusorio Lume Avenue and Orto San Clemente, west of Etna Avenue. It’s expected to open in 2019 and will occupy a strategic position in the historic centre.
Vittorio Emanuele: Scheduled to open in 2019, Vittorio Emanuele station will be located opposite the Vittorio Emanuele Hospital on Plebiscito Avenue.
Palestro: Palestro, also scheduled for 2019, will be located in Plaza Palestro.
Nearby attractions
Stesicoro station is part of the “Museo diffuso Della Città di Catania” project, which aims to educate citizens about local culture through themed stations. The Stesicoro station is dedicated to the Roman Amphitheatre of Catania, one of the largest amphitheatres of the Roman Empire. The monumental ruins of the Roman Amphitheatre of Catania are within walking distance of Stesicoro station. Graphic representations of this amphitheatre and its construction history adorn the walls of the station. There are plans to display replicas of local artefacts discovered by archaeologists, along with LED screens on the walls showing virtual reconstructions of the places where these artefacts were found.
