Monday 14th September 2026

Woke around 0800…but we weren’t hungry enough very slow to rise. Simple breakfast on the premises…bit of ham, cheese and tomato. Coffee was horrible. We were tended to by Gabriella, who had no English but insisted on showing us her tattoos…she was pretty much covered from head to foot! Abluted then ventured out on an improvised walking tour. 

First stop was Piazza Duomo…the cathedral is impressive. Strange statue of an elephant with a obilisk on its back in the centre of the piazza…the elephant is the emblem of Catania for some reason! Wandered through the fish market…all a bit of an unsightly mess. Made our way to Castello Ursino, then through the back streets up to the Roman amphitheatre...paid to get in and had a look around. It's in pretty good shape for nearly two thousand years old...the under-croft has been carefully excavated, and you can walk all the way around, accessing the vomitories which lead to the seating...it was immaculately planned and constructed, and could hold an audience of 15,000!

Walked on past the palazzo where Bellini, he who composed the opera "Norma", was born and raised, then on up the Via Crociferi past the enormous Benedictine Monastery, and various palaces, to the big open square to the north. Part of the square has been excavated to reveal a portion of the Roman Coliseum that once dwarfed the area, and where Santa Agata was thrown to the lions...she is the patron saint of the city. 

Had lunch at a little osteria. The barmaid spoke good English, and I thought I heard her singing at one point, so asked her whether there were any open mic venues in town...one of the waiters said there would be a jam session at a bar a short walk to the north, on Tuesday night...may make it if we get our packing done. Walked back down the main shopping street, Via Etnea, and back to the digs to rest up before dinner. Met up with Kim, who had spent the day on a guided hike on the slopes of Etna. The climb had been steep, and the terrain problematic, and she had aggravated a knee problem. 

She managed to walk across town, though, to a little trattoria we'd sussed out in the morning. Sat outside on the deck...the food was OK, but nothing to write home about, though Kim plumbed for the donkey steak for her main course! Walked her back to her accommodation and said our farewells...she takes a bus to Scicli tomorrow morning. Shelly texted us to say that Tony and Judy hadn't been able to fly out of Catania this morning due to seismic activity on Mount Etna...they had had to get a train to Palermo, then a flight to Rome, before heading for London! Hope things clear up by Wednesday when we are due to make our getaway!!!