How many articles have we read about the beauty of vacationing in Catania, and why it's a good idea to invest your vacation (and money) in this Sicilian city. This small southern metropolis, according to the latest statistics, has become one of the most visited summer destinations. It even received the award for Best in Sicily 2019.
we at #itCatania Today, however, we want to tell you what five good reasons might be for not coming to Catania—don't even pass by!
1 – You hate the sea, the beach and any place that involves a bikini, a beach mattress and sunscreen
You're the type who hates the sea and avoids any salty liquid. The sun, sand, rocks, and even pebbles are so bothersome to you that "AVOID" is your watchword when people ask, "So, are we going on vacation?" Let's be honest: Catania is not the right place! In fact, the coasts that separate Catania from the sea are all characterised by enormous expanses of sand, such as the Beach.. With its 18 kilometers of dark yellow sand, of volcanic origin. This year even the destination of the very famous caretta caretta, who wanted to lay her eggs right here with us.
The Playa concludes its expanse with the Simeto Oasis Nature ReserveBut why should I tell you? You don't like reserves, I imagine: all that nature! Just to give you an idea, the reserve was officially established in 1984 and is considered a little gem on the Catania coast. Flora and fauna thrive here, and trips by locals and tourists alike are constant, making it ideal for both children and adults. The entire Simeto Oasis area is accessible on foot, and at the end of the walk you'll find yourself facing a white-sand river beach.
The cliff and the pebbles of Catania, what heresy!
Then we also have the reef. Yes, imposing lava rocks are reflected in a sea rich in fish and colorful seabeds. You might even spot a lamp, if you come in the evening, or you might see some other tourists snorkeling, renting a boat, or a canoe, to go and see the Faraglioni of Acitrezza, or you might even happen to enter inside San Giovanni Li Cuti and seeing that tiny black sand beach. It's pure torture, isn't it?
Of course, among the reasons not to come here, there is certainly the very pebbly beach that intertwines several municipalities, starting from Giarre and ending in the province of Messina. Giarre, Fiumefreddo, and then San Marco, the pebbles, the cold, rejuvenating water are the protagonists. It almost seems like an enchanted, infinite oasis. And then, a small clarification, we Catanesi doc But we love the sea, it's part of us!
2- You can't stand the hustle and bustle, people having fun at all hours bother you and you just want silence and, if possible, no one around.
I know, you're probably telling yourself that Catania isn't for you, maybe you'll come back in the winter. AndOr, if it's the nightlife you don't like, winter isn't for you here either! In fact, here the streets and alleys of central Catania fill up every evening, whether it's intensely cold or stiflingly hot. There are people everywhere and at any time. Fromappetizer for after-dinner drinks, any occasion is a good one for spending time together. Lately, the most populated areas are those that start from Via Santa Filomena and reach, like an artery, the heart of the city. The meeting places are packed with small eateries (serving local, ethnic, futuristic cuisines...), pubs, wine bars and (for those who really can't do without) there are even bookstores open until late.
Well, my dear impatient friend, Catania is not for you! Just think, we are such party animals that we have as many discos as if we were in Ibiza; we put colored umbrellas above the sky of fish market, which in the evening also becomes a meeting place for hundreds of people. All the seafaring villages In the province, they have seafood restaurants and taverns that…Borghese, get rid of them. In short, here in Catania, there are all sorts of ways to have fun, in every sauce and shape. The leitmotif of the Catania holiday, which quickly becomes part of the tourists' diet, is: "At dawn, let's make ourselves a pistachio croissant, eh?!"
You don't like all this crazy heart of Catania? Well then I think it's true, this city is not for you!
3- You're on a strict diet. And like a madman, you're convinced you can continue the diet even on vacation.
In short, you've been eating your brains out between one protein and another! Well, if the problem with your incompatibility with your Catania vacation is a strict diet you can't avoid, even during your well-deserved vacation, we can only say: "We'll get over it...Bye!"
Catania is the home of good food and even better drinking! Above all, it's the city of eating a lot, so much so that the universal concept of "full" here seems almost ephemeral. If you're here for a short or medium period—believe me—you'll end up eating so much that buttoning those jeans will become one of Hercules' twelve feats. Because the important thing for us is that the guest gets up from the table not on his legs, but by rolling. It's a philosophy of life, which begins with the ancient grandmothers of Catania and reaches today's restaurateurs.
You'll taste the most incredible delicacies, often served in portions for two, even if you're alone. And it doesn't matter whether you're used to huge plates or not. You'll quickly get used to our portions, because in a flash… Puff, you've already fallen in love with our cuisine. You will alternate your main meals (which here are on average 4-5) with granitas, cannoli, arancini, cipolline, Siciliane…Yes, because these things do not replace lunch or dinner, let's be clear: they are snacks.
In Catania, we love to remind you of the flavors and recipes of our past, we like to combine them with current trends, and why not, we even try to invent modern solutions. Of course, if dieting is your primary goal, we don't recommend Catania as a destination; you might be tempted. After all, no one wants to ruin that sculpted body. We'll think of you while we tuck into our pasta with sardines.
4- You've only seen the mountain in magazines and you didn't even like it!
You're a determined type: your vacation must not be connected to the mountains under any circumstances. You happily leave the mountains to Jon Snow from Game of Thrones; they must not be the protagonist of your selfies. Catania isn't exactly for you, because it happens to be overshadowed by Mother Etna. A volcano, among other things, which is active, watches over it from above, sometimes shaking it a little, but which gives it so much fertility that it becomes the marvelous city it is. In winter, it's a spectacle: snow, hikes, slopes, cable cars, and mountain huts with giant chimneys. In summer, it becomes a gathering place for picnics, geological tours, and nighttime views of the stars and planets. Ideal for enjoying a nice pizza al fresco and, why not, spending some time alone with your partner.
In short, our Etna dresses itself in all the seasons that pass through it, leaving the inhabitants stunned, let alone the tourists! You can't come to Catania and pretend that to the mountain let it not exist, also because for a Catanese it is pride and reverence. In short, it's like you went to Euro Disney and said "let's hope we don't meet Mickey Mouse..." It's impossible!
5- You're one of those people who can't stand friendliness and a friendly spirit, so Catania isn't the right city for you!
You can't stand people who immediately treat you like a family friend. You're the type who wants to go on vacation on your own, and that's it. The most open you can be to others is when you check into a hotel. Well, you've chosen the wrong city if you've ended up in Catania. We here, at first sight, are immediately ready to give you – according to the order- a smile, a kiss on the cheek (or rather two, those who kiss only once are not true Catanese), a plate of pasta and a huge slice of parmigiana made by grandmother. Then we continue with a glass of wine, the one from Etna, and a ride wherever you want.
If we continue to get to know each other—that means if we stay in the same square meter for at least two hours—we'll give you a thorough recap of the last 25 years of our lives, and we'll let you taste a ricotta cannolo, a Sicilian anchovy pie, a limoncello, and a glass of zibibbo wine, so you can digest the fried eggplant from earlier. Then, if you like, and you're not too tired, we'll take you on a tour of Catania. We'll tag you in a story with the hashtag #grandiamici. Naturally, we'll accompany you to the airport and say goodbye, "See you next year!"
And we truly look forward to seeing you next year, because you're now a part of our hearts too. This may seem like an exaggeration to many of you, but think carefully about how many people from Catania, or how many tourists who have come here, have experienced exactly this. This is our greatest pride: we are lovers of Hospitality with a capital H, of the joy of living, and of love. And while this may make some laugh, it always moves us.
There are a thousand other reasons NOT to visit Catania.
This wonderful city, which, if you come to visit anyway, will force you to consider a thousand other reasons to stay...
