Early Spring in Catania
I spent early Spring in Catania. Catania is the second-largest city in Sicily in Italy. I went to enjoy a bit warmer weather and more sunlight than is possible to have in South-Estonia at the same time.
San Berillo
I stayed in the San Berillo district near the city center and only explored areas around the 5km radius. I ended up here by selecting mid-priced accommodation in Catania at booking.com.
My B&B was on the Via Sorrentino street. Next to my room was Piazza Cutelli, a small green city square with a fountain in the center.
The streets around the neighborhood are of various types. There is an out-of-place highway which cuts through the district.
The area went through an experiment of urban planning in the late 1950s, mainly to relocate "undesirable" people away. Another blogger has summarized it well: carlkruse.net.
Migration of people has left some buildings abandoned and unmaintained in the district. There are derelict homes, commercial, and industrial buildings.
The people in the area are just normal Italians. Judging by some other blogs, it might appear that the neighborhood is a bit iffy. I had no trouble here.
There are high-density apartment houses, too, and many commercial buildings in the San Berillo part closer to the city center.
Porto di Catania
The port was one of the first areas which I explored. There are ships docked in every size, from small boats to big ferries. I was only able to access the docks with small ships. The port area is fenced off, separated by the highway, and not easily accessible.
Green park
There was a large green park called Boschetto della Plaia on my way from the airport to my B&B. The park is surrounded by fence and barbwire, and has 2 gates. I entered through one of the gates, but for the shortest route, I had to leave through barbwire.
The park has some mid-height pine trees and some trees with leaves. It had been pruned recently from older trees. Some new trees were planted. I saw no animals and very few people. The park will probably see more life later in Spring and Summer.
Public beach
The public beach, Spiaggia di Catania, is about 3km from San Berillo. An abandoned water park, with a huge slide, a landmark visible from far away, is right next to it.
If you need a sitting place, then there is a triangular wooden structure next to the water park. There are no benches. Trash is littered around it, indicating that this is a popular site.
The route from, and back to San Berillo, is beautiful, but along it are many deserted buildings. The streets were quiet, with a minimal amount of traffic, both on feet and wheels.
The beach is nice and warm on the sunny days, but the wind can be strong. It will blow sand into everywhere: pockets, shoes, and bags.
Mount Etna
Catania is located right next to Mount Etna, an active volcano reaching 3.3km above the sea level. I wished to explore the mountain, but a week earlier I had caught a cold, and I still felt a bit uneasy, and thus decided not to go there.
East Catania
The eastern part of the city has high-density apartment buildings. They range from 4 to 10 floors. The buildings look good and well-maintained. The streets are wide, with walkways, and have plenty of parking spots. Graffiti is visible but quite minimal.
The places closer to water have lower density, and include playgrounds, sports and park areas. I saw almost nobody here, possibly because of the uncommon cloudy day.
Right along the shoreline is a rocky beach. The area is called Lungomare di Catania. The rocks are mixed with dark-colored remains of volcanic lava mass. Cacti and other plants grow from the lava formation.
Free cats
Cats are among the loved animals in Italy. The stray cats, living in colonies on the streets, are called free cats - gatti liberi. They are heavily protected by law, and can freely roam in public and private spaces, including historical sites. There is often a local who feeds them.
Historic center
The city's historic center has many old buildings and squares. The streets are wide. I walked through it on my last day on the way back to the airport. The square below is Piazza del Duomo, a popular tourist sight.
Some structures have a dome, so common for churches. I don't want to downplay the historical culture, but I'm not a catholic and dislike such giant religious buildings.
Airport
The area around the Catania airport is very clean and beautiful. Unfortunately, there is no good walkway access. If you go by feet, then you must walk on the road.
The airport has 3 terminals: A, B, and C. The terminal A is the main one. It is tiny compared to the traffic. Terminal B is completely closed.
If you arrive early to departure, and want a sitting place before the security check, then go to the terminal C building. It has plenty of chairs where to sit and wait.
Various shots
