Entrance to Catania Airport Chapel

Catania Airport Chapel
Catania, Sicily, Italy

Map of Sicily and Catania Airport (Link .)

CTA

IATA: CTA ICAO: LICC

       Catania Sicily Airport (Link 2.)

"Catania-Fontanarossa Airport, in Italian Aeroporto Internazionale Vincenzo Bellini di Catania-Fontanarossa (IATA: CTA, ICAO: LICC), is an international airport located at 4.3 km southwest of Catania, the second largest city of the island of Sicily (Italy). Actually, it is the busiest airport in Sicily and the 6th busiest in Italy. (Link 1.)

"Catania–Fontanarossa Airport (Italian: aeroporto internazionale Vincenzo Bellini di Catania-Fontanarossa, English: Catania International Airport) (IATA: CTA, ICAO: LICC) also named as Vincenzo Bellini Airport, is an international airport 2.3 NM (4.3 km; 2.6 mi) southwest^[1] of Catania, the second largest city on the Italian island of Sicily. It is named after the opera composer Vincenzo Bellini who was born in Catania.

"It is the busiest airport in Sicily and the 6th busiest in Italy with 9.120.913 passengers in 2017.^[2] Major airlines such as Alitalia, Lufthansa and KLM offer services here and connect numerous European destinations such as Rome, Munich, Amsterdam and Berlin, while low cost airlines such as easyJet and Ryanair offer flights to leisure destinations.

"With nearly two million passengers carried in 2016, the Catania/Fontanarossa - Rome/Fiumicino route is Italy's busiest air route, and Europe's fourth busiest. (Link 2.)

Chapel Entrance Poster

Chapel Altar

"Catania is the second largest city of the Italian island of Sicily, with a total population of 313,000 inhabitants. Between the cities of Catania and Messina, there is the Mount Etna, the highest volcano in Europe (3,329 m) and one of the most active volcanoes in the world. On 2013, it was declared World Heritage Site by the UNESCO. In the past, Catania has been destroyed by several catastrophic earthquakes and violent volcanic eruptions by Mount Etna.

The best time of the year to visit the city is on Spring. If you wish to visit it during Summer be ready for high temperatures, since it has the hottest climate in Italy.

"About its attractions, you shouldn’t miss a trip around Mount Etna.

Regarding architecture, it is worth to see the Fontana dell’Elefante, the main symbol of the city, the Greek-Roman Theatre, the Roman Forum and the Baroque city centre of city, since is an UNESCO World Heritage Site (the Cathedral, Saint Placidus, Saint Francis of Assisi, among others).

"If you visit Catania on Winter, you shouldn’t miss the Festival of Saint Agatha, which is celebrated every February 5 to honour the city’s patron."(Link 1.)

"Catania Airport's history dates back to 1924, when it was the region's very first airport. During World War II it was seized by the Allies during the Sicily Campaign and used by the United States Army Air Forces as a military airfield. Twelfth Air Force used the airport as a combat airfield, stationing the 340th Bombardment Group, which flew B-25 Mitchells from 27 August to 19 November 1943. In addition, the HQ, 51st Troop Carrier Wing used the airport from 29 September 1943 to 29 June 1944. Various transport units used the airport for the rest of the war, afterward it was turned back over to civil authorities.^[3]

"By the late 1940s, it was clear that the airport was fast running out of space and it was deemed necessary to relocate and in 1950, the new bigger and improved Catania Airport opened for business.

"After 20 years of unexpected growth and high passengers levels, in 1981 it was once again necessary to restructure the airport to cope with demand.^{[citation needed]}

"In order to cope with the increasing passengers figures, a new terminal, equipped with 22 gates and 6 loading bridges, opened on 8 May 2007 replacing the old facilities.^{[citation needed]} The current "investment programme" has ensured that Catania Fontanarossa Airport continues to look forward and plan for growth over the next ten years, implementing a whole new infrastructure and making many additions, including a panoramic restaurant, a new airside runway and further office space.^{[citation needed]}

"Ryanair started flying to Catania in 2013, initially announcing only one route to Catania while also starting operations to Comiso Airport, a new airport which opened in 2013 and is located approximately 100 km from Catania, near the city of Ragusa. "(Link 2.)

Airport Poster

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Photos: Taken in October 2018 by RW  while travelling in Italy.  

                                                          
Link 1: https://www.airport-catania.com/

Link 2:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catania%E2%80%93Fontanarossa_Airport

                                                                       Prayer

God, be with persecuted Christians throughout the world. Amen (SW.)