Aci Catena: Affordable Apartments Between Catania and Etna

Aci Catena is one of the Aci towns, a cluster of settlements between Catania and Acireale known for lemon and orange groves and the Aci Castello coast. It is about 12 km north of Catania, with the Catania–Messina rail line, the A18 motorway and Catania airport within reach. Etna's black soil and its occasional ash falls are a feature of life here.

Buyers are Sicilians, commuters to Catania and foreigners seeking inexpensive winter homes.

Italy has no general bar on foreign buyers from EU countries, and others generally need reciprocity. You need a codice fiscale (tax code), a notary (notaio) to complete the deed, and a surveyor to check that the cadastral and planning documents match what exists. Registration tax on a private-seller resale is 2% for a main home (prima casa) or 9% otherwise, on cadastral value with a €1,000 minimum, plus fixed taxes of €50 each; from a developer, VAT of 4%, 10% or 22% applies. Ask for the energy certificate (APE).

Our Italy consultation guide and financing page give more, and the Italy hub lists other towns.

Acireale, San Giovanni la Punta, Mascalucia, Belpasso and Misterbianco all lie within a short drive, with Catania the main city.