Accommodation, food, tours and markets
Sicily is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea and the largest province in Italy. The island is home to the highest volcano in Europe, 3300 meters above sea level. (Many people get confused and claim that Etna is the highest mountain in Europe, this is not true. The highest mountain is Elbrus in Russia, 5,642 meters)
Sicily has a population of 5 million and its area is slightly larger than the area of Israel before the return of the territories.
You can imagine that Sicily is the stone at the end of the Italian boot, (or the pizza triangle)
The island’s location, 150 km north of Africa, makes it an excellent destination for visits all year round.
All the peoples who ruled it left their mark on it, and this only adds to its wild character.
It’s in the middle, between Europe and Africa, not only geographically, but also mentally. Great island, great people, great food, views, beaches…and the list goes on.
The writer Goethe wrote, “To see Italy without seeing Sicily is not to see Italy at all, for Sicily is the key to everything.” And from Sicily came the world of ice cream, pasta, the good wine “Marsala” and many other wonderful things.
“Northern” Italians see Sicily as a hardened region, I was fascinated by it. I loved its hardcore (the hard core, the rough, the authenticity)
In short, I invite you to fall in love with authentic, beautiful and fun southern Italy. I invite you to fall in love with Sicily.
Catania
The flight to Catania takes three hours one way (and two and a half hours return). You land at the city airport and from there the distance to the city center is only 15 minutes. A taxi should cost 20-30 euros. The bus stops are to the right of the airport exit, further on are all the car rental companies.
Parking in the city is not an easy task, you are not allowed to park in the yellow, it is only for residents. Parking in the blue is paid (there are meters here and there, and there are paid parking lots, find them on Waze or park with flashing lights, put your luggage in the hotel and ask the employees to explain to you where to park.
Our first meeting with the hospitable Sicilians was in the parking lot. I didn’t know how to start a hybrid car (what? Where’s the key?…strange) The hotel cleaner tried to help, passersby, one of the men on the street called his mechanic, who arrived within 3 minutes and explained to me how to start it. Only later, when everyone was sure that I had managed, did the demonstration of support disperse. By the way, no one beeped, no one pressed. Unbelievable! Is this the mafia’s Sicily?
