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| The Fontana dell'Amenano is a tribute, the young boy holding a cornucopia, to the river Amenano which used to run overground long ago. The fountain was built in 1867, and now the water cascade underground. Fountains always look better at night. This is because the light reflects off the fountain in ways that make it more interesting. |
I fell in love with this steampunk light when I saw it the other night in that cool bar! It's an old wooden birdcage that has been transformed into a chandelier. The shape reminds me of a steampunk airship. Oh! What is steampunk? For those unfamiliar, it is a genre or culture that blends Victorian age steam-power with modern-era technological advances. In a way, it is a means to repurpose vintage things, but it is also so much more. For my bedroom, I built a pair of steam-powered lamps. They look amazing but weigh 7 kg (15 lbs) each!
Eating regular meals in Sicily is tough, and I love it! There is so much to sample. I would get sick if I tried to sample every possible sweet and savory type of pastry. Taste Atlas has a great review of the top 10 must-try street foods. I tried #7-Arancini al Ragu, #6 Cartocciata, #5 Crocché, #3 Scacciata and Cipollina. My favorites were the Cipollina and Scacciata. Of course, most are fried, but they are delicious! 😋
A common drink, which can be purchased at little stands like this one, is sparkling water, lemon juice, and salt. This is unique to Catania, and it is so refreshing to drink.
I can't even name all the cookies and pastries I tried in Catania! 😅 You can see some of the more popular choices here. My favorite dessert by far was Granita. Though many I tried were fantastic! Each city in Sicily makes its own version of Granita. Typical flavors include Almond, Chocolate, Pistachio, Strawberry, and Lemon. Granita is like a sorbet but is 100 times better than the more popular Italian dessert of Gelato! Mixing flavors like Almond and Pistachio in a single cup is also typical. Lemon is never combined with other flavors. It is my favorite! 😁 That cool refreshing tartness is hard to beat. Granita is also frequently eaten with a warm brioche bun for breakfast or late in the afternoon. Below is a lemon Granita, yum yum!
I almost feel guilty that I have not taken advantage of sampling dinners here. But, honestly, that guilt lasted about two seconds. I love snacking throughout the day and sampling new things. The downside is that I am simply not hungry when it's dinner time. So, frequently, I passed on the big meals and settled for some of the tasty fried pastries above instead.
I've already mentioned how wonderful the view from the Belvedere at Chiesa della Badia di Sant'Agata (Church of the Abbey of Saint Agatha) is. The density of churches in Catania is amazing. There are churches next to and across from each other. Sicilians must sin a lot! 😂
While on the Belvedere, I stop next to a couple near my age. I listen carefully to their conversation. The cadence and the accent, I know that. "C'est bon de rencontrer du vrais Francais! (It's good to encounter real French!" I say, laughing. "With an accent like that, I know you are from Québéc," I continue. The couple laughs with me. "Yes, we are finishing our 10-tour of the island of Sicily. We rented a car and drove the whole island," the woman says. We chat for a solid 15 minutes exchanging travel stories. The couple gives me a few recommendations of places to visit and places to skip. "Seeing the location where the battle with Cyclops took place is not worth the detour. It's scenic, but there is not much to offset the hassle of getting there," says the man. Finally, I wish them well as they return home tomorrow. I have realized that I love encountering French Canadians in my travels.
The building in the middle is the Teatro Massimo Bellini (Massimo Bellini Theatre). It has a beautiful dark brown patina that is unlike any other buildings in the city. With the sun finally shining, I sit against the fountain and bask in the warm sun for several minutes.
Catania has proven to be a real gem! Now I need to see if this is common to Sicily or only to this city. Although I couldn't see the sunset due to all the tall buildings, I snapped this beautiful photo of the pink sky behind the Cathedral of Saint Agatha. Unfortunately, I never made it inside this one, but it is pretty stunning, nevertheless. My next stop is Siracusa (Syracuse), Sicily.
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