Paternò

This walkable Sicilian town near the southwestern slopes of Etna, Paternò has a centre thick with historic churches and a good café and restaurant scene. The Normans founded the current settlement in 1072 under Roger I of Sicily, and it later became a principality under the Moncada family in 1565. The wider region holds several UNESCO World Heritage sites, and the volcano provides a dramatic backdrop throughout.

• Population46,030
• Nearest water from center 3.4 km2.1 mi
• Nearest mountain from center 16 km10 mi