Al Mare in Citta B&B, Catania, Sicily

Advantages: historicaly interesting, prety town, great views
Disadvantages: long train journet from Palermo

...from the main drag of shops and restaurants. Typically for Italy there is a vast range of prices. This can also be quite a touristy town so it worth picking your restaurant carefully as quality sometimes suffers as a result of the high demand. If you like shopping there is a good range of shops from clothes and leather shoes to a myriad of shops selling local ceramics with very distinctive patterns. Again there is a vast range of prices so it is worth shopping around as you could find the same items in several different shops. If you only have a short time in Sicily I would recommend visiting Taormina from Catania rather than Palermo, but if you have a little longer then it is well worth stopping in Taormina for a few days to take in the atmosphere. There are plenty of hotels centrally located to choose from. We found a charming B&B run... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: good place
Disadvantages: petty crime

...Catania is the second major city in Sicily after Palermo. There is a common say, that it is easier to do business in catania than Palermo. Although in my experience the 2 cities are very similar under this respect, I would not necessarily disagree with this statement. An interesting place to visit is Castello di Ursino, (Ursino castle). Located in Piazza Federico di Svevia, at the end of Via Auteri between Via Plebiscito and Via Garibaldi, it used to be a coastal fortress. Later, vulcanic eruptions expanded the coastline, and if you go there, you can deem by yourself the extent of this expansion! Another place worth visiting is the cathedral (Duomo), which goes back to 1090. A word of caution for tourists, there are not too many restaurants in the centre of the town. If you have the time, try and go to Taormina, a beautiful place... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: Beautiful Culture and Scenery
Disadvantages: Mad Drivers in traffic choked streets!

...of getting about, but there are quite reasonable taxis, and buses to get around, and the cable car service between Taormina and the beach at Mazzaro is not to be missed. This cost us 2.60 euros return. We found a very good Trattoria "Al Giardino" just by our hotel in Via Bagnoli Croce, opposite the Public Gardens, which is well worth a visit also. On the downside of travelling here though, we found Air Italia's service very dissapointing indeed, especially when a group of our friends joining us were diverted the Palermo airport instead of Catania due to the baggage handlers goining on strike, subsequently causing them to drive from Palermo to Taormina - which they all described as a nightmare of a journey ! More direct flights also should be available, as we had to fly via Rome last time (never again). Next time we will be alot fussier about our... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful