I stayed at Zammara apartment for almost a week and enjoyed it immensely. Gianluca is a very attentive, generous and warm person. Both my flights in and out of Catania were early in the morning and he waited for me and even helped with the luggage. He is from Catania, he knows and loves his city so all his recommendations were top notch. The last evening I had a great meal at a new hip downtown restaurant/art space where his partner is a chef.
The photos don’t do this place justice. It is a large old apartment with original tiles (similar to the ones you’ll find at local museums), a few stylish antique pieces and perfectly blended modern elements. Gianluca re-designed it himself with a lot of thought and attention to detail. His care extends to cleanliness; everything is impeccable. The apartment is a few steps from the heart of the city (Piazza Duomo, the famous fish market and several pedestrian areas), which makes it easy to explore during the day and go out to one of the many restaurants and bars in the evening. The train station is only a 20-minute walk away, so it’s easy to go visit other beautiful towns in the vicinity. If you are staying longer and like to cook, the kitchen is perfectly equipped for it. And if you are a writer, or interested in literary history, the fact that you can see the apartment of Giovanni Verga (one of Sicily’s most renowned authors), now a museum, from the balcony ignites imagination.
I felt at home at Gianluca’s place and hope to return next year for a longer stay. The Zammara apartment is a true gem and I highly recommend it. Thank you, Gianluca, for being such a fantastic host.