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Catania: Sicily's Surprising Gay City
Most people going to Sicily pick Palermo or Taormina. Catania's the one they miss. The city was rebuilt from scratch in Baroque lava stone after an earthquake in 1693. It sits right at the base of Etna. Its university culture gives it a social scene way bigger than you'd expect for 310,000 people. The gay scene here is small—three bars, one sauna—but it's more out in the open than in bigger Palermo. And the city's looks make it one of Italy's most memorable places, no matter who you are.
, near Piazza Stesicoro, is the main gay bar. Cocktails are good, DJs play on weekends, and the crowd is a mix of gay and lesbian. on the amazing Via Crociferi is where you go for culture and aperitivo. is the sauna in the centro storico. Catania Pride in July marches down Via Etnea—that long, straight street that points right at Etna's peak.
Why Catania
Catania is a good spot for a Sicily trip that mixes the gay scene, Baroque buildings, Etna (you can get there by cable car), and being close to Taormina (45 minutes by train). The fish market, the Pescheria, is one of the best things to see in Italian cities. The food is great. And after midnight, when the city empties out, walking the lava-stone streets is one of Italy's most atmospheric urban experiences.
