Claudio is a truly remarkable person, and we were very touched by his consistent generosity and thoughtfulness. He welcomed us with a wonderful glass of his friends homemade lemon liqeur, before taking the time (at 10pm when we arrived) to translate various tips and recommendations for our stay in Catania. As it was late, he ordered a pizza for us from a local pizzeria, and poured us a carafe of wine to enjoy before bidding us goodnight. He was punctual to reply to any questions we had, and took us on a truly memorable trip to Mount Etna for sunset (including a whistle stop for pastries!) When we were unsure of how to get to the beach, he was at the doorstep in five minutes to drop us off at the local playa. His apartment is very clearly an endeavour of love and passion for the art he makes, every touch is thoughtful and we really did feel like we were at home during our stay. The location is fantastic, a five minute walk from a bustling and wonderful market, and close to many restaurants and bars. We had the best time exploring the area, picking up fish and vegetables from the market and cooking it back at home (when we weren't eating ourselves into a racoon-level stupor with Catania's insane cuisine) It is worth saying that as a same sex couple we were made to feel safe and welcome at all times during our stay. Before we left, Claudio even took the time to give us one of his books, each with a personal note. Sicily is really a special place, and you will be hard pressed to find people as as easy going and happy to help as Sicilians. We can't thank Claudio enough for such warm and genuine hospitality, and you can bet we'll be coming back soon! Thanks Claudio!