Italy
Cibali

Discover travel destinations of travelers writing a travel journal on FindPenguins.
Travelers at this place
    • Day 39

      Catania

      May 9, 2022 in Italy ⋅ 🌧 18 °C

      Weiter geht’s nach Catania. Die Stadt ist die zweitgrösste Stadt auf der Insel und auch wenn die Aussenquartiere nichts zu bieten haben, gehört die historische Altstadt zum Unseco Weltkulturerbe.

      Von unserem Stellplatz aus sind es ca. 1.4 km bis zur historischen Altstadt. Munter spazieren wir drauflos, auch wenn es hin und wieder leicht regnet. Die Strassen sind eng, schmutzig und die Häuser heruntergekommen. Es ist mir schon ein bisschen mulmig zumute… obwohl, das Stadtzentrum gleich um die Ecke sein sollte… Bei einem Kreisel stehen vor einer Metzgerei ein paar junge Männer. Der Metzger schneidet vom riesigen Mocken Fleisch ein Stück ab und schmeisst es auf den Grill wo schon das eine oder andere Stück schmoren. Ist natürlich ein Leckerbissen für die jungen Männer.. Aber überrascht sind wir schon, so ein 1.5 kg Stück Fleisch so offen rumliegen zu sehen. Das sind wir von der Schweiz halt nicht mehr gewohnt. Schon bald sind wir inmitten des Gewusels eines Wochenmarktes, der aber bereits zu Ende geht. Überall Stände mit Früchten, wieder offen herumliegendes Fleisch, Gemüse, Restaurants und Bars. Kurz darauf sind wir in der historischen Altstadt wo noch Stände sind vom Giro d’Italia und dem E-Giro Rennen. Die nächste Etappe des Giro d‘ Italia geht am 10. Mai von Avola auf den Ätna.

      Catanias Altstadt besteht hauptsächlich aus einer breiten Allee mit wunderschönen schwarz-weissen Häusern und Palästen. Beeindruckend, leider spielt auch heute das Wetter nicht so mit uns so verziehen wir uns bei der nächsten Regenschauer in ein kleines Weinlokal. Auffallend ist, dass gefühlt jede Minute eine Carabinieri oder ein Carabinieri Locale vorbeifährt, gelegentlich auch ein Guardia Finanza. Soviel Polizeipräsents sind wir uns nicht gewohnt, hat aber vermutlich auch mit dem Giro zu tun. Auf dem Rückweg bleiben wir, auf mein Bitten hin, lieber entlang der lauten und stark befahrenen SS114 als noch einmal durch die dunkeln Gassen des dahinter liegenden Quartiers zu gehen… Erneut kommen wir an riesigen leeren Fabrikgebäuden vorbei. Diese fallen uns schon in ganz Italien auf. Riesige Fabrikanlagen, für 1000 von Mitarbeitern und alles leer und verwahrlost. Traurig. Globalisierung. In letzter Zeit lese ich oft von Deglobalisierung in den Medien-> Hoffentlich. Ich habe schon vor 15 Jahren gesagt, das ist keine gute Sache mit der Globalisierung, aber eben, ich bin kein Politiker.
      Read more

    • Day 260

      Sicily

      December 22, 2018 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 16 °C

      بعد از گذروندن حدود یک ماه تو جزیره رویایی و خلوت با مردم عالی، مقصد بعدی جزیره سیسیل تو جنوب ایتالیا بود. برعکس ورود شکوهمندانمون به ساردنیا، ورودمون به شهر پالرمو، مرکز سیسیل، صحنه شلوغی و ترافیک و ساختمونای بد قواره حسابی زد تو ذوقمون.
      کاترین، کسی که قبلا تو ورونا پیشش مهمون بودیم، دختر عمه اش، والریا، رو تو پالرمو بهمون معرفی کرده بود و او هم ما رو تو مهمانسرای شرکتش جای داد. والریا، چند سال پیش موسسه نجات پناهجویان از دریا رو راه اندازی کرده بود که با کشتی جون خیلی از پناهجویان در خطر در دریای مدیترانه رو نجات بده. ولی دولت مدتی بود که اجازه فعالیت موسسه های خصوصی تو این زمینه رو گرفته بود.
      سیسیل مرکز اصلی فعالیت مافیا برای مدت طولانی بود و خوب میشد اثری که این گروه گذاشتن رو تو درهم ریختگی فضای شهری حس کرد. البته ما هم از مهمون نوازی مافیا بی نصیب نموندیم!
      آسانسور ساختمون کوچیک بود و ما هم حال بردن دوچرخه ها تا طبقه ۷ از پله ها رو نداشتیم. لذا همون جاها تو لابی بزرگ ساختمون گوشه راه پله ها دوچرخه ها رو قفل کردیم. صبح روز حرکتمون، وقتی با کل باروبندیل اومدیم لابی دیدیم یکی از همسایه ها با چاقو جفت دوچرخه ها رو پنچر کرده😱😢
      با همه این مصایب از پالرمو به سمت جنوبی ترین بندر سیسیل راه افتادیم. مناظر کوهستانی زیبایی رو گذروندیم ولی تقریبا اکثر شهر ها همون به هم ریختگی و شلوغی رو داشتن.
      Read more

    • Day 13

      Catania, Sicily, part 2

      November 9, 2016 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 59 °F

      As we headed north through the city in search of a restroom, I told my sister the story of how I discovered Nossa Familia espresso bar in Portland. The story is that I was in search of a restroom in Northwest Portland and decided to find a coffee house for that purpose. A little googling led me to the highly recommended Nossa Familia, and I walked in with enthusiasm, only to find that it had no tables and no restroom. I ordered a coffee anyway, and it turned out to be the best cup of coffee ever and that's how I found my favorite coffee place.

      So, I told this story to Kathryn as we were using Pee.place to find the nearest public restroom. We followed the map on my phone to the Greco Roman Theater where there was supposedly a public w/c, but when we walked in and inquired, the women at the ticket booth seemed a little perplexed by the idea. They asked (in Italian--there's much less English available here than in the other cities we've been to this trip) if we were buying admission. How Kathryn and I looked at each other, and looked at the bit of Roman ruins that we could see from the entrance, and I said, "This might be another favorite coffee shop situation. I think we should do it."

      And that's how we spent the next 1 1/2 hours exploring this fascinating, relatively recent archeological excavation. Houses had been built on top of the ruins throughout history, so the excavation was like decluttering on a grand scale, figuring out what was worth keeping and what had to go. Kept: parts of an 18th century house, walls from a 17th century house, Roman theater, Greek base structure, and artifacts found in the excavation of the site.
      Read more

    • Day 53

      Catania, Sicily - First Impressions

      October 21, 2018 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C

      It was a bit of an overcast day today as we left Taormina to Catania. There have been some severe storms in Sicily leading up to our time here and some of the major roads have been cut off. Due to that and Brad being over driving we decided to cancel our car and accommodation on the other side of Sicily and extended our time in Catania an extra two nights. A bit less stressful.

      We seemed to be a bit luckier today with the trains running on time and great seats for the trip. And even waiting at the Taormina train station was pleasant as it was a beautiful old building with lots to admire and photograph. The poshest train station we have been in so far.

      Arriving in Catania made me second guess my decision to stay here. As we drove towards our accommodation, the streets were littered with rubbish, bottles and vomit and graffiti covered the buildings. (I must admit I did like some of the better street art pieces, it’s the trashy graffiti that I dislike). Add the overcast sky, it made for a very gloomy first impressions. And the entrance to our accommodation was on one of these streets. I didn’t feel quite safe when we first arrived.

      However, once we got into our apartment, Casasicula, we saw the better side of Catania. Our host did not speak English so he arranged for an English speaking friend to greet us, show us the apartment and to give us ideas of what to see in the city. She was very welcoming, and the apartment is beautiful. I love the shower; it plays music while you wash. Hilarious that someone would think that is essential in a holiday rental. Our bedroom balcony looks over the Piazza Universita, and it looks clean, graffiti and rubbish free, and inviting. The rain set in as we arrived at our apartment, so we unpacked and relaxed until the bad weather had passed over before heading out to see what Catania has to offer. I’m still not sure what to expect.
      Read more

    • Day 1

      Catania

      August 7, 2021 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 30 °C

      Catania ist die zweitgrößte Stadt Siziliens mit über 300.000 Einwohnern und liegt direkt zwischen Mittelmeer und dem Fuße des Ätnas, dem größten aktiven Vulkans Europas.
      Aller Stress fällt ab jetzt ab von uns, wir lassen etwas Langsamkeit einkehren und lassen uns auf das sizilianische Leben ein - wir fuhren mit dem öffentlichen Bus am Meer entlang, tranken Affogato (Espresso mit Vanilleeis) zwischen den Sizilianern in einem Kiosk, aßen die ersten leckeren süßen Teilchen, genossen die Gerüche und das Treiben auf dem Markt, schlenderten durch die Altstadt und genossen vor allem die Sonne und das mediterrane Flair.Read more

    • Day 8

      Pizzeria - 7+ Sette Piu

      May 19, 2018 in Italy ⋅ 🌙 18 °C

      Da in diesem Laden wohl ein Pizzaweltmeister arbeiten soll, hiess es heute Abend testen der Besten. In meinen Augen total überschätzter Laden. Für mich die schlechteste Pizza in unserem Sizilien Urlaub: far too much und durchgematschter Belag und Boden, geschmacklich aber ok. Keine Ahnung warum die bis spät Nachts Schlange stehen. Wer auf Pizza Hut steht, dem wird es hier gefallen - wer aber eine gute, ausgewogene Pizza schätzt ist wo anders besser aufgehoben.Read more

    • Day 11

      Catania

      September 29, 2017 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C

      We arrived here by train from a very thundery Siracusa and had a nice walk from the station dodging around piles of what seems to be the region's main product - dog shit.

      Catania itself was not much chop, but the following day we did a great trip up 3,000 metres of Mount Etna.

      It would be good to say how spectacular the view was, but in fact it was completely foggy, blowing a gale and with the wind chill would have been well under zero. Rather incredibly, though, there were people in shorts, runners and even a few suicidal cyclists making their way up and down the muddy volcanic trails.

      Strangely enough we enjoyed our trip around one of the craters, wind burning our faces, fingers and toes numb and unable to see much in any case. It was quite surreal and - once we were back inside the bus - exhilarating.

      Then for a change we spent our last day in Taormina, an hour north by bus.

      We thought it was a one-attraction town, but what an attraction! The Greek Theatre, perched off to the side of a most touristic town, is well preserved, substantial and in a stunning setting overlooking the Mediterranean. We climbed over, up and through it, all along with a ship load of cruise passengers clogging every street, gelateria, and souvenir shop in town.

      In all, there were plenty of superlatives from our few days in Catania, our last Sicilian destination.
      Read more

    • Day 112

      Catania und Silvester

      December 31, 2018 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 12 °C

      Auch Catania, die zweitgrößte Stadt Siziliens, wollte von uns besichtigt werden. Da wir die Silvestereinkäufe bereits erledigt hatten, war heute noch genug Zeit dafür. Leider spielte die liebe Sonne nicht so richtig mit und so durchstreiften wir das Zentrum unter einem Wolkenhimmel bei gelegentlichen Schauern.
      Dennoch hat Catania einige schöne Ecken mit allerlei historischen Bauwerken, wie zum Beispiel dem Elefantenbrunnen. Den traditionellen Fischmarkt werden wir auch so schnell nicht vergessen, mit seinem einmaligen Geruch und allerlei Matsch und totem Fisch auf dem Boden.

      Unseren Silvesterabend verbrachten wir ganz gemütlich in unserer Wohnung mit leckeren Burgern, Pantomime, Kapseln, Gesangskünsten und Uno. Das Feuerwerk der Nachbarorte konnten wir glücklicherweise vom Hinterhof unserer Ferienwohnung aus beobachten, da wir vor lauter singen die Zeit vergaßen.

      Es ist schön an Silvester Freunde bzw. Familie um sich zu haben.

      Tag 113: Den Neujahrstag verbrachten wir ganz entspannt und gemütlich in unserer Ferienwohnung. Während Corinna und David einen kleinen Ausflug machten, fingen wir so langsam an unsere Sachen zu richten und Freudolin fit zu machen.

      Am Abend wollten wir als Abschluss nochmal gemeinsam Pizza essen gehen. Jedoch ist Neujahr auch in Italien Feiertag und so fanden wir nach einiger Suche "nur" ein Fischrestaurant. Auch hier konnten wir wieder sehr lecker speisen.
      Read more

    • Day 56

      Fera o' Luna Mercato, Catania

      October 24, 2018 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C

      For our last full day in Catania we decided to visit the local market, Fera o’ Luni, which is the oldest outdoor market in the city, and has been held in Piazza Carlo Alberto since the 1830s. Originally held on the first day of the week, it is now open every morning from Monday to Friday and all-day Saturday. And this market is massive, it has long outgrown the Piazza and now covers the streets on either side. I was quite excited to see a local market, thinking it would be so very different to ours at home, but I was disappointed. Most of the stalls sell cheap items from China, t-shirts, gadgets, tacky toys, fake watches and with stall after stall after stall all selling the same stuff, it isn’t very interesting. Closer to the Piazza are the food, vegetable, fruit and cheese stalls and the flea market stalls with piles of clothes and boxes of shoes, tables weighed down with materials. It feels like a grubby version of our markets at home and really wasn’t worth the time or effort to walk through it. What did amaze me was the sheer size of the market and even with a bit of elevation, photographs do to show how expansive the sea of market umbrellas is.

      The good thing about visiting the market is it took us to another side of Catania, so once we made our way through the markets, we explored the streets on this side of town. As we walked up one of the main streets this morning, we noticed the road had been closed off and as we got to the corner we discovered why. Someone had strung a protest sign on the side of the building and there was obviously a threat of someone jumping or falling as below was the big blow-up cushion the fire-fighters put out to stop people from jumping or falling to their deaths. Of course we stopped with all the other rubberneckers to try and work out what was going on but as the situation seemed to be ongoing, we continued on to see what other sights Catania had to offer.

      Our walk today took us past the Roman Amphitheatre of Catania, built in the 2nd century AD and with only a small section of the structure now visible below ground level, it really wasn’t that impressive. Poor Catania, we have seen so many amazing historic sites so far on this trip that Catania has a lot to be compared to. If this was our first stop in Italy and not our last, we would have been more amazed and impressed.

      Next to the Amphitheatre is the Palazzo Tezzano, started in 1709 on land owned by the count and physician Nicholas Tezzano, it was later donated to the city of Catania and transformed into a hospital between 1720 and 1727. Today it houses financial institutions, shops and cafes.

      On the western side of the Amphitheatre is the Chiesa San Biagio, also known as the church of Sant’Agata alla Fornace. This church stands on the site where the furnace in which Sant’Agata suffered martyrdom was located. In fact, after being locked up in prison for not wanting to adjure her faith, she as first subjected to torture with fire and then her breasts were removed. They certainly were a barbaric people if you did not agree with their religion.
      Read more

    You might also know this place by the following names:

    Cibali

    Join us:

    FindPenguins for iOSFindPenguins for Android