The Meeting will be held in Catania (Sicily - Italy) at the INAF Astrophysical Observatory of Catania.
INAF - Astrophysical Observatory of Catania | INAF - Osservatorio Astrofisico di Catania
Via S.Sofia 78, 95123
Catania, ITALY
LINKS: Position on Google Maps | INAF Astrophysical Observatory website
How to reach Catania
The best way to reach Catania is by plane.
Catania has an International airport (CTA) 15 m by car (20 m by bus) to the city center. Direct flights are offered from many airports in Europe. Connecting flights from Rome (FCO) and Milan (LIN) are frequent during the whole day.
Catania is also connected via railway with the most important cities in Italy.
How to reach the city center
From Catania Airport
Catania “Vincenzo Bellini” International Airport (called also Fontanarossa Airport) is close to the city center (<15 min by car in no traffic condition).
LINKS: Airport Website | Position of the Fontanarossa Airport on Google Maps | Airport Parking Map
Connection airport downtown can be done by taxi or bus.
- BY TAXI (recommended)
We recommend you to call Radio-taxi (+39 095 330966).
Call for a taxi (available h 24/24) when ready to leave the baggage claim area. The fare to the center is about €22-24, but you can ask for confirmation when you call. The airport to/from Observatory rate is about €30.
Taxi picks you up in few minutes at the Airport on the Departure level (at the 1st floor): take the escalator or lift at your left after leaving the baggage claim area, then exit on the right and wait for your taxi.
- BY PUBLIC TRANSPORT (ALIBUS)
The AMT "Alibus" Bus Service leave every 25 minutes from 4:40 am to midnight, from the Airport to the City Center.
Bus ticket (€4) can be purchased: at the Airport; from authorized AMT retailers and AMT vending machines; on board; online with the AMT Catania App. Remember to stamp the ticket upon getting on the bus.
At the Fontanarossa Airport we suggest you use the bus stop located outside the Terminal A at the Arrival level (at ground floor, on your right after the exit), as reported on the Airport Parking Map.
Please refer to the Alibus route and stops map to choose the bus stop closest to your Hotel.
If you need to go directly to the meeting’s venue, stop at Central Train Station (Piazza Papa Giovanni XXII), take the metro till the “Milo” station + the free metro shuttle to the “Cittadella"; alternatively, stop in Via Etnea/Piazza Stesicoro and take the rapid bus BRT1 to the “Cittadella”.
About routes and prices of the public transport for connecting the city center to the meeting’s venue, see the following section.
Alibus timetable and route – Price €4
From Catania Central Railway Station
Arriving by train, the central railway station (Stazione Centrale FS - Piazza Giovanni XXIII) is in the city center.
If you plan to go directly to the meeting's venue, it is possible to reach the Observatory:
- by taxi: a ride by taxi should cost about €25 – €30 depending on timing and traffic;
- by metro + metro shuttle: take the train at the metro stop "Giovanni XXIII" in front of of the Central Railway Station, stop at "Milo" and take the Metro Shuttle service, stopping at the “Policlinico” bus stop.
- by bus, using BRT1 (the closest stop is at Piazza Stesicoro)
See also the next section on how to reach the venue from the city center.
LINKS: Central Station Website | Position of the Central Station on Google Maps
How to reach the INAF Astrophysical Observatory of Catania from the city center
INAF Astrophysical Observatory of Catania is close to downtown but up on a hill inside the “Policlinico Gaspare Rodolico” General Hospital area and near the “Cittadella” University campus of Catania.
From city center you can reach the venue by public transport, such as Metro and BRT1 Bus. From the entrance of Policlinico, which address is Via S. Sofia n.78, the Observatory gathers for a 8-minute walk.
However, if you prefer to use taxi, you can tell the driver to leave you inside the Observatory parking area.
Position on Google Maps | INAF Astrophysical Observatory website
- By Metro + Metro Shuttle
The closest metro stop to the Observatory is the “Milo” one, from where you can reach the venue by a Metro Shuttle service, stopping at the “Policlinico” bus stop.
The metro trains have a frequency of one train every 10 minutes until 15:00; then the frequency will be one train every 15 minutes.
The shuttles have frequency of a bus every 10 minutes.
Metro Timetable – Price €1,00 (90 minutes) | Metro Shuttle Timetable | Map of the Metro and Shuttles route (in red: the metro route; in yellow: shuttle route) | Metro Shuttle route and stops inside the Cittadella
- BRT1 BUS
The rapid bus BRT1 connects downtown to the entrance of the Hospital area (“Policlinico” bus stop).
Because BRT1 is a circular line, you can take this bus to go from the Observatory to downtown at the same bus stop.
Buy a ticket also for the return trip. There are no places where to buy a ticket close to the Observatory.
BRT1 Timetable - €1.40 (90 minutes)
