Catania

Catania have met us with crowds of migrants near the train station. In general, the city has left a negative impression, we felt there quite uncomfortable.

As we traveled by public transport and wanted to visit the Mount Etna, we had no other choise as to live in Catania and use local bus to the volcano.

Unlike Palermo, which has at least small access to the sea in the center, Catania has a promenade and a beach only in the north and in the south, where tourists rarely get.

The area between the railway station and the city center looks like a dump, see for yourself.


Central bus station is visible to the right. Actually this is only big parking lot with buses. Tickets need to be bought before departure in the building that is located near 2 buses in the top right corner.

In Sicily nobody follows traffic laws this is clearly seen on the next picture. Typical situation with parking on the streets. What can do here a woman with a baby carriage?


And here is the only bike path in the center. But it's not possible to use it because of the trees.


Massimo Bellini theater is one of the city's attractions.


And this the same theater, but from aside.


Beautiful house-palace with parking lot in front of it!


Because of these and other problems since 1970 the city's population fell from 400 thousand to 300 thousand. People want to live in more pleasant places.

We don't know why Catania has so many problems as location of the Sicily cannot be the only reason. There is a wonderful Taormina to the north and nice Siracusa to the south.

The central square Piazza Duomo is beautiful, but dozens of traders spoil all impression :)




The elephant fountain (17th century) is the symbol of the city.


The main Etnea street runs from Piazza Duomo in the direction of Mount Etna. It makes sense to walk to Bellini Gardens.






We lived on this street in the UNA Hotel Palace (booking.com). It has a roof terrace and offers views of Mount Etna. Unfortunately, all three days the volcano was hidden behind the clouds, although the weather was nice.




On the same street, opposite to the Bellini garden find a cult cookery Pasticceria Savia and be sure to visit it. The garden has become one of the few places in the city that we liked.




Unique calendar. It is hard to believe that every day the date is different.


Getting there: Catania has an airport, popular with low cost airlines. From the airport take a bus to the central bus station (4 euros, 20 minutes to go). The town also has a railway station.