Catania - tell me I’m wrong:(

[BIWI]

Here for a few days. First day today. Old town/centre is fine. The rest is shit. Dirty, rundown graffiti, litter.

I spent a lot of time there a few years ago for work and agree that it’s really grotty. Some beautiful architecture but felt really uncomfortable there as a woman on my own

Sicilia is poor and corruption is rife. What did you expect ? Its not Lake como. Read some roberto saviano whilst you are there, good insight into the Italian culture and dichotomy of crime and high wealth of the north.

Get a car or bus about 20 minutes up the road. Left side is Etna, the right side is beautiful coast.

I think I know where you are staying, a bit in the centre. It’s a shame, there is a nicer part in the square by the university, and then just a bit up the road are some lovely hotels by the sea.

RTFT. I didn’t choose it. FFS

totally agree, my experience was same, the centre is lovely, the rest was full of litter, even the beaches, I could not help thinking i was missing something. We went to etna with a guide which was amazing, and also hired a car and went to valley of the temples which i also really enjoyed.

@BIWI It’s Italy! Well Sicily. It’s not manicured. You really needed to plan a bit more because there are wonderful places!

I wasn’t expecting 'manicured'. But I wasn’t expecting the dirt, the litter or the graffiti either.

What does your DH think of it? I am still so fascinated as to why he chose it. If you’re planning a trip to Sicily it’s hardly a destination beyond being where you fly in to! As someone said, it’s like expecting Luton to be a destination because that’s where the airport is.

Ask him for MN!

Where have you been so far? Have you been to the botanical gardens? I would check that out and maybe book for a food tour or something and they may take you to some interesting places.

It is really like most busy cities where you can expect a fair amount of trash and graffiti outside of the centre.