INAF - Osservatorio Astrofisico di Catania
How to reach the venue of the workshop
The "AI in Astronomy" workshop will be held at the INAF Astrophysical Observatory of Catania (address: Via S. Sofia 78, 95123 Catania CT, Italy), located in the "Cittadella Universitaria" (University campus) area of Catania, inside the "Policlinico Universitario".
Bus
Take the BRT1 bus and get off at the Policlinico Sud stop (Via S. Sofia 89). Enter the "Policlinico Universitario" and walk (~500 m) until reaching the INAF-OACT entrance (see map below).
You can find the route ("percorso") and the timetable ("orario") of the BRT1 bus at this link. Tickets can be purchased at Newspaper or Tobacco kiosks.
To return to the city center, walk inside the Policlinico and cross through the Cittadella campus to the opposite entrance, located on Via Passo Gravina, and take the BRT1 bus from the "Cittadella Est" stop (see the map below).
Metro + Shuttle Bus
Take the metro, e.g. from "Stesicoro" or "Giovanni XXIII" stations, and get off at the "Milo" station. From there, take the shuttle bus service and get off at the "Policlinico Est" stop. You can find the route ("percorso") and the timetable ("orario") of the shuttle bus at this link.
Catania
Catania, the second-largest city in Sicily, is located on the island's eastern coast, facing the Ionian Sea and lying at the foot of Mount Etna. Founded by the Greeks in 729 BC, the city boasts a rich history shaped by successive dominations, including the Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Arabs, Normans, Swabians, Angevins, Aragonese, and Spanish. These influences are evident in its stunning monuments. Today's city, predominantly dating to the 18th century, arose from reconstruction efforts following the devastating earthquake of 1693. It stands as a splendid example of Sicilian Baroque architecture and has been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Scan the QR code below to view Catania map with selected places of interest.
How to reach Catania airport and the historic downtown area
Catania can be reached by air or train transportation. We recommend air transportation to the Catania International Airport (airport code CTA), served by several major and low cost companies.
Once at the airport, you can reach the historic downtown by means of the Bus service called ALIBUS, run by the AMT company. You can find a picture of an ALIBUS at this link. The route ("percorso") and timetable ("orario") of the ALIBUS is displayed at this link ("Feriale" stands for Monday-Saturday, while "Festivo" stands for Sunday).
The price of the ALIBUS ticket is 4 Euro and it can be purchased directly at the bus driver.
You can take also a TAXI from the airport to the downtown. Price can vary according to company; best fee (from 30€) is provided by RadioTaxi ( for the “flat fare" you should call +39 095330966 and request the taxi ride).
Accommodation
Below you can find some hotel recommendations. We suggest considering accommodations in the Catania city center to take advantage of more opportunities for nightlife, rather than staying close to the workshop venue, which is in a more residential neighbourhood.
Hotels
Manganelli Palace
Il principe ****
NH Hotel ****
Liberty Hotel ****
B&B - Houses - Hostels
