It had an area of 3,552 square kilometres (1,371 sq mi) and a total population of about 1,116,917 as of 31 December 2014.

[2] Historically known also as Val di Catania,[a] it included until 1927 a large part of the province of Enna.

It was replaced by the Metropolitan City of Catania starting from 4 August 2015.

[4] It was hit by a devastating earthquake in 1169, which caused an estimated death toll of about 15,000 people in the city of Catania alone.

[4] It was hit by another earthquake in 1693, which resulted in the death of about 12,000 people (63% population at the time).