The sea you can feel

The view over the bay was the reason I’d have booked this apartment even if the rest had been rubbish. Coming from landlocked Derby, we need to see the sea on holiday, and after exploring Sicily’s west coast some years ago, this was the obvious choice for a trip to the east. Flying into Catania and wanting to visit sights both north and south made it a great base. The town was quiet in October, the weather was perfect, and being right beside the sea made it hard to leave. We loved starting and ending each day looking out across the bay. There were plenty of bars, restaurants, takeaways, and shops, so we didn’t need to go to a supermarket. Antonella and Giuseppe were friendly, excellent hosts from our first enquiry until we left. They met us on arrival and departure and gave us lots of useful suggestions and advice. The apartment was wonderful. The kitchen and dining area had everything a couple might need, and the large bedroom had storage and a huge, comfortable bed. We spent most of our awake time in the sun room, with its spectacular bay views and welcome breeze. Stairs from the bedroom led up to the top, where we got a 360° view of the town and sea, with sun loungers, chairs, and a dining table. The hot tub was the icing on the cake for me. They’d kindly left it set up, and I used it day and night. We had no trouble parking nearby and visited lots of attractions in the area. There are still plenty of places on our bucket list, but I hope we can return to The Sea you can Feel 🥰. Thank you, Antonella and Giuseppe.

Aci Castello is a beautiful village with lots of great restaurants, and it’s an ideal base for visiting Catania. We’ll definitely be back! We had such a wonderful stay. The view over the sea from the terrace was the most beautiful we saw in all of Catania, and having breakfast there in the morning was lovely. The owners gave us a very warm welcome. They’d stocked a cupboard with delicious things to cook with and even left us a bottle of wine. Highly recommended!

Aci Castello is a real fishing village, not a buzzing tourist town. People from Catania come on weekends, but it still felt more alive than some of the small villages we drove through. The apartment is right in the middle of town, with a small terraced area below. We didn’t notice any problems from gatherings there. Local dogs barking were probably the biggest irritation, though you’d get that in any village. It’s easy to spend a week exploring the area, with friendly, good value local shops selling all kinds of delicious food, and plenty of places to eat. We especially liked Slurp in the main square for coffee and/or granite, and there’s also an amazing pizzeria with a GF pizza base. Antonella and Guiseppe were attentive and quick to reply to everything, from restaurant suggestions to parking questions. Nothing felt like too much trouble. We really did feel as if we were staying at a friend’s apartment while they were away, though all personal items were tucked out of sight. The kitchen is small but has everything you need, and the fridge was stocked with welcoming bottles and a lovely bowl of fruit. There’s plenty of storage, and the bed was very comfy for me, though the mattress is very firm. The rooftop terrace and the “room with a view” kept us sitting and watching the clouds and sky change in the light, and wondering if the fishermen on the rocks actually catch anything. The sunbed cushions are stored beside the wardrobe. The location is just above Catania. Driving north to Taormina is straightforward, but heading south to Ortegia or Noto means allowing time to get through Catania, unless you’re very brave or patient. You don’t really have to go anywhere, though. Thank you, Antonella and Guiseppe, this is probably the best AirBnB I’ve stayed in!

We came at the beginning of April and really enjoyed the peaceful apartment and its kitchen. Our hosts made us feel very welcome. Shops and restaurants are only a 3 to 5 minute walk away. The balcony lounge overlooking the sea was a highlight, with a terrific view of the Cyclopes Island. We had a lovely stay and would recommend it!