CATAN: anyone knows it?

 Anyone ever played CATAN? If you did, how is it? Any good? I stumbled upon this board game in a toy shop a few months ago. I did not buy, mostly because I have a few board games here already and I barely play at any of them. I love board games, I love finding new ones, however I lack time, and, well, the social circle to play it. But I got curious about CATAN. From what I read, it looks like a sort of Monopoly for the Bronze Age, or something like that, where you must build cities and trade. It just sounds quite cool at atmospheric, with an emphasis on strategy (not always my forte). And the box looks really beautiful. So I am considering putting it on my birthday list. But first I want to know your opinion on it, if you know this board game at all.