We were up bright and early for our 9.35 a.m. train to Sicily's capital, Palermo. After checking out of our apartment we trundled our luggage along to Catania Centrale station and purchased two single tickets at a cost of €13.50 each. There is no need to buy the tickets in advance as the tickets remain …
Continue reading Day 7. From Catania to Palermo, Sicily
It was our last full day in Catania and we decided to spend the morning in Acireale, six miles north east of the city. We travelled there by train taking just 10 minutes with return fares €5 each. On arrival in Acireale station we discovered that it was located 3km out of town. I don't …
Continue reading Day 6. Acireale & Catania, Sicily
It was a short walk from the apartment to the small Catania Borgo station located near the main Via Etnea thoroughfare. A rack railway operates from this station taking passengers around the perimeter of Mt. Etna and we decided to travel as far as Randazzo, a small town nearest to the summit of the volcano. …
Continue reading Day 5. The Circumetnea Railway around Mt. Etna, Sicily
It was back to the railway station again after breakfast for a train from Catania to Syracuse. Return tickets cost €14.50 return and are valid on any regional train services. We'd decided to take the 10.30 a.m. train and discovered that this was to be replaced by a bus due to weekend track maintenance. After …
Continue reading Day 4. Syracuse and Ortigia, Sicily
After a leisurely breakfast of Parma ham and buffalo mozzarella on freshly baked bread we set off for Catania Centrale station, a lengthy walk from our apartment. On arrival we purchased return tickets from Catania to Taormina (€9 each standard return). Tickets are valid on any regional trains but need to be validated in the …
Continue reading Day 3. Taormina, Sicily
After enjoying a leisurely breakfast on our apartment balcony we prepared to go out and made our way towards the main square (Piazza Duomo). The Giro Sicilia car rally was about to get underway so we admired some of the vehicles and spotted a Morris Minor Traveller which one of my elderly relatives used to …
Continue reading Day 2. Exploring Catania, Sicily
We arrived in Catania at 9.00 p.m. the previous evening on a British Airways flight from London Gatwick. Our flight arrived on time and as Catania Fontanarassa airport was very organised it took us no time at all to pass through immigration and only a few minutes to wait for our luggage. To get into …
Continue reading Day 1. Sicily – Catania
