Greetings from beautiful, but wet and a little chilly 58 degrees, Catania, Sicily. Yes, we have returned to Sicily! We visited here in 2013, and were both intrigued and curious about Sicily so we decided to return🫣
I know you’re thinking, where the heck is Catania, Sicily?🤔
A very easy two hour drive from Paola to Villa San Giovanni, (the very tip of the toe of Italy), then on to the ferry to Sicily😬
Catania has a history as long as Western civilization! Founded by Greeks in 800 BC, it became one of Romes first outposts in 300 BC.
Greeks, Carthaginians, Romans, Muslims, Christians, Vikings and the US Air Force, when we bombed Sicily in WW11, all have a hand in Catania’s history!
We are staying in Old Town, it’s quite fun. Catania has a wonderful newer shopping district right next door!
The city has been destroyed many times by lava flows from Mt. Etna and rebuilt over and over. (We are currently in a Yellow warning 🤔)
Catania is the main hub of Sicily and it has every ethnicity from around the world. It’s quite the urban adventure.
The usual southern Italy directions get us lost several time before we figure out how to get on the ferry 🫣
Ferries run every few minutes and the crossing is only 20 minutes.
Lots of people around the world drive crazy, but we think Sicilians take crazy driving to the next level!
The drive to Catania is uneventful, but the drive to our Airbnb, then the parking garage to park the car is truly crazy! Driving is a full contact sport in Sicily. Throw in the motor scooters, the hand jesters, and the Italian cursing, it’s quite the adventure😉
After all that, an easy check in to the Airbnb, a wonderful space.
Ok, early check in…let’s go for a walk and get some dinner!
Easy first day, getting used to the city again 🫣
Up bright and early, off to the market!
Ok, the world famous, A’Piscaria Mercato del Pesce, the fish market of Catania.
Walking tour time, let’s go says TGC!
It’s started to pour rain, let’s call it a good first day! 16,000 wet steps!
Day Two starts cloudy with pouring rain!
After running some errands (and visiting the bakery), I joined TGC for mass at the basilica.
Rain is letting up so walking tour time!
TGC is pounding the sidewalk and streets now!
Up and over the only hill in Catania, we need lunch!
That’s it for day two! 20,000 steps and even a little sunshine at the end!
You know we’ve been looking for the best cannolis in Sicily. This is the current leader!
We were planning on a couple of driving trips to neighboring city’s, (Siracusa and Taormina) but with the driving conditions here, that might not work 🫣
Arrivederci for now!
Trafton’s European Tour 2024-2025 