Katun is the Mayan-ruins-themed inverted roller coaster at Mirabilandia amusement park near Ravenna, Italy — a Bolliger & Mabillard machine designed by Werner Stengel that has been sending riders through two ‘Stargate’ tunnels since April 1, 2000. It’s sometimes typed or misheard as ‘Katoon’ or ‘Catun,’ but there’s only one ride: Katun.
This guide covers everything people search for about the coaster: its exact top speed, its height in feet and meters (altezza, for Italian visitors), how intense it actually feels and who can ride it, what its name actually means, how it compares to other famous B&M inverted coasters, and what to know before you visit Mirabilandia to ride it.
Quick Answer
Katun is a Bolliger & Mabillard inverted roller coaster at Mirabilandia (Savio, Italy) that opened April 1, 2000. It stands about 164 feet (50 m) tall, runs a roughly 3,937-foot (1,200 m) track, and includes six inversions: a vertical loop, a zero-G roll, a cobra roll, and two corkscrews. Most enthusiast sources, including Wikipedia, list its top speed at about 65 mph (105 km/h); Mirabilandia’s own marketing has cited figures around 104-110 km/h (roughly 65-68 mph), so expect the true figure to land in that range depending on train weight and conditions.
How Fast Is Katun? (Top Speed Explained)
The most commonly cited top speed for Katun is about 65 mph (105 km/h) — the figure used by Wikipedia and the one that’s circulated in enthusiast circles for years. Mirabilandia’s own promotional materials have cited slightly different figures over the years, generally in the 104-110 km/h (about 65-68 mph) range — a modest variation that isn’t unusual for a coaster that’s run for over two decades, since top speed can shift slightly with train weight, temperature, and how the ride is currently marketed.
If you want the number most consistent with independent tracking databases, use 65 mph (105 km/h). Either way, Katun’s speed comes almost entirely from its first drop off the lift hill, since the layout has no launch — and enthusiasts consistently rank that first drop as one of the strongest of any B&M invert.
How Tall Is Katun? (Height, or ‘Altezza’, in Feet and Meters)
Katun’s height — altezza, for anyone searching in Italian — is about 164 feet (50 meters), with a first drop of roughly 148 feet (45 meters) from the top of the lift hill. That height, combined with its 3,937-foot (1,200 m) track, has historically made Katun the fourth-tallest complete-circuit inverted coaster in the world and the longest inverted coaster in Europe.
Riders must be at least 55 inches (140 cm) tall to board, per the park’s posted requirement, and Mirabilandia recommends the ride for ages 12 and up.
Katun at a Glance
- Park: Mirabilandia, Savio, Italy
- Manufacturer: Bolliger & Mabillard
- Designer: Werner Stengel (Ing.-Büro Stengel)
- Location in park: Adventureland zone
- Opened: April 1, 2000
- Height: About 164 ft (50 m)
- First drop: About 148 ft (45 m)
- Top speed: About 65 mph (105 km/h) per enthusiast databases; the park has also cited figures up to ~68 mph (110 km/h)
- Length: About 3,937 ft (1,200 m)
- Inversions: 6 (vertical loop, zero-G roll, cobra roll, two corkscrews)
- Duration: About 2 minutes, 22 seconds
- Minimum height: 55 in (140 cm)
- Hourly capacity: About 1,700 riders per hour
- Trains: 3 trains, 8 cars each, 32 riders per train
The Ride Experience
Riders board Katun’s trains — each seating 32 across eight cars — before climbing the lift hill and dropping into a course that mixes classic B&M inverted-coaster elements: a vertical loop, a zero-G roll, a cobra roll, and a pair of corkscrews near the finish. Because the trains hang below the track with riders’ feet dangling free, the inversions feel more disorienting and weightless than on a traditional sit-down coaster — a hallmark of B&M’s inverted design that helped make Katun a fan favorite in the early 2000s.
The layout is broken up by two themed ‘Stargate’ tunnels styled after ancient Mayan ruins — one shortly after the station and another before the final brake run — giving the ride a distinct sense of place amid Mirabilandia’s coaster lineup. The full circuit runs about 2 minutes and 22 seconds, with a maximum force cited around 4 g through the inversions, and the ride is designed to cycle roughly 1,700 riders per hour across its three trains.
What Does ‘Katun’ Mean? (Name & Theming Explained)
A katun is a unit of time in the ancient Maya Long Count calendar equal to 20 ‘tuns,’ or roughly 7,200 days — just under 20 years. Mirabilandia borrowed the name directly from that calendar system to match the ride’s Mayan-ruins theme, which is why the layout winds through temple-style structures and the two Stargate-style tunnels rather than open track.
Some fan sites describe the surrounding themed area as representing a fictional lost Mayan city, reinforcing the ancient-ruins backdrop that separates Katun visually from most other B&M inverted coasters, which tend to use plainer steel-support theming.
How Katun Compares to Other B&M Inverted Coasters
Katun is often discussed alongside the other well-known Bolliger & Mabillard inverted coasters that share its basic hardware and inversion set: Nemesis at Alton Towers (UK), Alpengeist at Busch Gardens Williamsburg, Montu at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, and Banshee at Kings Island. All of these use the same core B&M invert formula — a vertical loop, roll elements, and corkscrews — but pacing and terrain interaction differ a lot between them.
Enthusiasts frequently single out Katun’s first drop and overall pacing as unusually strong for the model — many B&M inverts slow down noticeably through their inversions, but Katun is regularly described as maintaining a faster, more forceful tempo throughout, with some riders calling the elements before the brakes ‘enormous.’ Where it’s less distinctive is terrain use: unlike Montu, which dives through excavated trenches, or Nemesis, which is built into a below-ground ravine, Katun runs largely above grade, leaning on its Mayan temple theming and Stargate tunnels rather than landscape tricks to create atmosphere.
Is Katun Scary? Intensity and Who Should Ride
Katun is an intense ride by most standards: six inversions, a fast first drop, and forces the park lists around 4 g make it one of the stronger coasters at Mirabilandia. It’s built for thrill-seekers rather than first-time coaster riders — the park’s own age guidance of 12+ reflects that intensity, even though the height requirement (55 in / 140 cm) is lower.
Some enthusiasts also note that Katun rides rougher than many other B&M inverts of its era, with occasional mild head-knocking in certain rows — a known characteristic of the model as it ages rather than a design flaw unique to this unit. If you’re sensitive to inversions, forceful transitions, or vibration, consider a calmer ride at Mirabilandia first before committing to Katun.
Visiting Katun at Mirabilandia: Hours, Tickets, and Tips
Mirabilandia typically operates on a seasonal calendar: limited weekend-only days in early spring and late autumn, then daily operation with extended evening hours through the summer months. Exact opening days and times shift year to year and by season, so always check the current calendar before you go rather than relying on last year’s schedule.
Ticket pricing generally works in tiers — a cheaper rate for booking online in advance versus buying at the gate, discounted or free entry for younger children under a height threshold, multi-day tickets, and combination tickets that bundle admission with the adjoining Mirabeach water park. Because these prices and the exact calendar change seasonally, confirm both on the official Mirabilandia website before planning your trip.
Katun sits in the park’s Adventureland zone; arriving at park opening or riding during the first hour tends to mean the shortest wait, since it’s one of Mirabilandia’s most popular coasters.
Keeps your phone strapped to you, not in a loose-article bin. Zip it before the lift hill and walk straight off the exit ramp.
Rapids, log flumes and splash zones without the rice-bag aftermath. The touchscreen still works through the window, so you can still take photos.
Cheaper than the $15 poncho at the gift shop and you get a whole bag. Toss one in every backpack for water rides and pop-up storms.
Katun inverted coaster FAQs
How fast does Katun go?
Enthusiast tracking sites and Wikipedia list Katun’s top speed at about 65 mph (105 km/h), though Mirabilandia’s own marketing has cited figures as high as roughly 68 mph (110 km/h). The speed comes from the first drop, since the ride has no launch.
How tall is Katun?
Katun stands about 164 feet (50 meters) tall, with a first drop of roughly 148 feet (45 meters).
What does the name ‘Katun’ mean?
A katun is a unit of time in the ancient Maya Long Count calendar equal to about 7,200 days, or just under 20 years. Mirabilandia used the name to match the coaster’s Mayan-ruins theme.
Is Katun a scary ride?
Yes, by most standards. It has six inversions, a strong first drop, and forces around 4 g, and Mirabilandia recommends it for riders 12 and up even though the minimum height is 55 inches (140 cm).
How long is the Katun ride?
The full circuit takes about 2 minutes and 22 seconds from launch to final brake run.
How does Katun compare to other B&M inverted coasters like Nemesis or Montu?
Katun shares the same core B&M invert formula as Nemesis, Montu, Alpengeist, and Banshee — a vertical loop, roll elements, and corkscrews — but it’s known for maintaining a faster, more forceful pace throughout rather than slowing through its inversions. It runs mostly above grade, relying on its Mayan temple theming rather than terrain tricks like Montu’s trenches or Nemesis’s ravine.
When is Mirabilandia open and how much are tickets?
Mirabilandia runs a seasonal calendar — weekend-only days in spring and fall, daily with evening hours in summer — and ticket prices vary by advance purchase, child height, and multi-day or Mirabeach combo options. Check the current calendar and pricing on the official Mirabilandia website before you visit.
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