Inflight Magazine of Brussels Airlines

Welcome to the Inflight Magazine of Brussels Airlines

Destination Guides

bthere! Destination guides

Previous issues for Catania

Whilst every effort is made to ensure accuracy,
please confirm event/venue details in advance.

Italy : Catania - April 2008

Country Code: Dial for Italy

Snow-capped Mount Etna provides the perfect backdrop to the elegant streets and colourful markets of Sicily’s second-largest city. It’s a bustling time to be there – Catania is the citrus capital of Italy, and the oranges and lemons are being harvested now. As Ellen Grady finds, you will never forget the flavour

Getting around

Fontanarossa Airport

Bus: The Alibus shuttle service runs between the airport and the central train station. It’s a 15-minute journey, with buses running from 5am to midnight. Other services are available to all major Sicilian destinations, including Taormina and Palermo. The bus journey into Catania costs €2.
Taxi: Taxis are also available and the journey into Catania shouldn’t cost more than €30. All major car-hire companies are represented at the airport.
Tourist information: The main tourist information office is at 10 Via Cimarosa (, www.turismo.catania.it)

THE CENTRE

Dominating the city’s central Piazza del Duomo is the superb cathedral of Saint Agatha, flanked by elegant baroque buildings, while the noisy, colourful fish market is a stone’s throw away. The square leads onto Via Etnea, the main street, which is packed with inviting shops and traditional pavement cafés.

Sleep soundly – Between the cathedral and the university is the delightful Hotel del Duomo. Quietly comfortable, it offers easy access to all the city’s monuments.

Culture vultures – Right next to the cathedral, the sumptuous Diocese Museum (8 Via Etnea) has an impressive collection of paintings, statues and gold and silver treasures. These relate to the cult of Catania’s much-loved patron Saint Agatha, who was martyred around AD 251.

Must eat – Under the auspices of acclaimed chef Carmelo Chiaramonte, Il Cuciniere (110 Via Finocchiaro Aprile, ) serves up some imaginative dishes made with prime local ingredients and prepared using traditional methods.

MOUNT ETNA

One of the world’s major volcanoes provides a splendid backdrop to Catania’s baroque architecture. April is a great time to explore, when the clear air and strongly contrasting colours of black lava, white snow, and blue sky provide fantastic photo opportunities.

Must eat – The delightful Parco dei Principi restaurant (1 Via delle Ginestre, ) is tucked away in the village of Zafferana Etnea, on the slopes of Mount Etna. Try its delicately flavoured spaghetti with lemon, or one of the dishes prepared with wild mushrooms.

Must drink – High up by the Silvestri Craters, at 1,986m, is the historic bar La Capannina. Catch up on the latest information about volcanic activity while sampling the local liqueurs, honey and nougat. It does some tasty snacks, too.

TAORMINA

Playground of the rich and famous, beautiful Taormina is just north of Catania. Corso Umberto, the main street, is lined with enticing shop windows to admire, and plenty of pavement cafés for people-watching.

Sleep soundly – Pamper yourself for once, and stay at the gorgeous Hotel Timeo (59 Via Teatro Greco, , framonhotels.it, rooms from €356), where you can rub shoulders with members of the royal family, statesmen, pop singers and movie stars.

Culture vultures – The magnificent ruins of the Greek Theatre shouldn’t be missed – they offer panoramic views from Etna across to the Straits of Messina.

Shop til you drop – Ricordi Siciliani (8 Via Teatro Greco) has some unusual souvenirs, including replicas of Greek and Roman pottery and Etruscan jewellery.

NEBRODI MOUNTAINS

Take a spring break in the Nebrodi Mountains, where wild horses still roam free in the forest and rare wildflowers stud the meadows. It’s only a bus-ride from Catania.

Sleep soundly – Villa Miraglia is a cosy inn, and has a good restaurant serving traditional mountain cuisine. There’s horse-riding here, too.

Culture vultures – Birdwatchers will be reaching for their binoculars to spot griffon vultures and golden eagles, while history-lovers will revel in the ancient hilltop villages, each with a story to tell.

Must eat – Don Santo (116 Strada Statale, ) in Favoscuro, near Floresta, is a typical rural trattoria. You won’t want to leave after you’ve tasted its delicious home-made pasta, grilled lamb, and heady house wine.

Compiled by Ellen Grady