BED.da Catania Apartment

We were just minutes from the fish market, the main square, and lots of bars. Damiano was easy to reach, shared plenty of local information, and the facilities were great.

Alessia, the owner, was extremely kind and helpful. She even took us on a half-day Etna tour. Thanks again, Alessia. The apartment was very clean and comfortable, and it's in a really good spot, basically in the city center. Almost everything is a 10-15 minute walk away, so it’s a great choice for spending a few days in Catania.

The host was great, very communicative, and keen to make sure we had what we needed. The apartment was clean, had everything we needed, and the arrival gifts were a lovely touch. Still, we wouldn't stay here again. The street is a great base for restaurants, bars, and the fish market, where it was fun to see and buy fresh food. But the street itself felt dicey: there was broken glass and trash everywhere, and bags of rubbish sat rotting outside the apartment for two days. The streets stayed noisy late into the night. Our car was damaged overnight on our last night. I wish I'd taken the risk more seriously when the owner advised us to have full insurance on the rental. There was also a serious damp problem. Even with the dehumidifier running constantly, the apartment smelled musty and felt wet. Clothes we'd brought dry and put in drawers were damp when we went to use them. We were on a long trip and chose places with laundry facilities, but doing laundry here seemed pointless: things wouldn't dry inside, and there was nowhere outdoors to hang them. The hot water was another issue. There was only enough for about a 90-second shower, which wasn't enough for one person, let alone two. The host was eager to do a good job, but the apartment didn't work for us.

I had a wonderful three days in Damiano's apartment. It’s in the most interesting and important part of the city’s historic center, and it’s an excellent apartment. Damiano was very hospitable and helpful throughout my stay.