Located 20 km from Catania, along the eastern coast of Sicily, in the territory of Acireale, Santa Maria La Scala offers a beach composed of smooth lava stones, lapped by a crystal clear sea with deep seabed. The beach is equipped with beach clubs that offer bars and beach equipment rentals. Near the shore, there are several parking areas. This seaside village rises at the foot of a high cliff called "Timpa". To the north of the village, there is the "Grotta delle Palombe", a complex of columnar basalts that, according to a popular legend, was the shepherd Aci and the nymph Galatea’s refuge of love.