When our 11 day tour of Sicily ended and 6 of us had booked an additional day and night in this gritty Sicilian city, it was a gift to have an another day of sun, fine food, and walking along the Mediterranean. In the late morning, we caught two taxis which transported us to Aci Castello and from there, we took a leisurely stroll to have lunch at Trattoria da Federico. Fish was on the menu! (I highly recommend the swordfish steak.) When our taxis returned to pick us up, the trip back to Catania convinced me that driving in Catania is meant for those movie goers who never tire of car chase scenes. For a Fast and Furious experience, I recommend sitting in the front passenger seat and remembering to breathe. Later in the evening, we wandered into Via Pietro Antonio Coppola for pizza, wine, and salads. Don't be fooled by the flat screen televisions and night club vibe. The pizza was the best we had in Sicily and they treated us with great service. One more night in Catania is worth it for those who want to see the sights at a relaxed pace and spend a few more hours with new found tour friends. Thank you, Jamie! You're the best!
Posted by
Twin Cities of MN
6849 posts
We liked Catania. We did the RS guidebook walk, saw a number of lovely churches and fun to see Etna off in the distance. The WWII museum is excellent.
Posted by
🏝️ Hobe Sound, FL⛱️
3351 posts
I’ve been to Catania twice and wouldn’t hesitate to visit again. The open air fish market is unforgettable as was the Christmas shopping scene and passagiata where the Main Street was closed to traffic and vendors lined the way. English Christmas songs were blaring from outside speakers that seemed to have one store competing with the next and provided a festive mood.
Posted by
Huntsville, AL, USA
8379 posts
We came off a cruise ship in Catania one Sunday morning. The local neighborhood was about as dismal as any place we have ever visited. Obviously we did not see the better end of town.
Posted by
San Diego, California
6224 posts
I'm confused, who is Jamie?
Posted by
OP
4 posts
Jamie was our Rick Steves tour guide who gave us ideas about what to do in Catania.
Posted by
Atlanta, GA
219 posts
I’m in Catania now and did that drive back from Aci Castello yesterday!
Catania is actually easy driving for me. Get a small car and full insurance and just assume no one else is stopping :). Drivers in Catania are actually really kind to each other. I final the smaller towns and cities more challenging. People aren’t as patient (looking at you, Ragusa!).