Located on a busy main street, near restaurants, shops, and sights
Walking distance to the historic center
Large country-style rooms can sleep up to four
Charming breakfast room serving continental breakfast
Cozy lounge with TV and reading material
Attentive owner and staff offer personalized service, and tours
Free Wi-Fi throughout
Limited on-site parking (fee)
Pet-friendly
No restaurant or bar; breakfast not included in all rates
No in-room coffee/tea facilities; tube-style TVs
No elevator
Fee for parking, which is limited
The 12-room Hotel Etnea is a lower-middle-range hotel with budget-friendly rates and a standout staff. Located on one of Catania's main streets, it sits across the street from a park, and is near restaurants, shops, and the botanical gardens. It's about a 15-minute walk to the historic heart of the city. The spacious rooms, which have a rustic, country-style decor, sleep from one to four people, and include air-conditioning and free Wi-Fi, but TVs are tube-style. The hotel has a homey (some might say dated and hokey) lounge, and a country-style breakfast room. Breakfast is free for guests who book online. While there's no elevator, staff will help with luggage. Travelers seeking a hotel closer to the historic center might want to consider the Bianca B&B and Apartments.
Scene
Rustic, country-style ambience with an exceptional staff offering personalized service
Hotel Etnea 316's old-stone, four-story facade shows the grime, peeling paint, and chipped plaster of age, but its large pale-blue doors with heavy knockers, shutters, and small balconies reveal a homey charm. Inside, the guest house retains many of its period details, including marble stairs, wrought-iron handrails, and molded ceilings, although some wear and tear is evident. The lobby, whose rustic decor includes a tile floor, yellow drapes, wicker couches, and wood tables and chairs, feels cozy and welcoming -- if a bit grandmotherly. The breakfast room has a country-kitchen charm -- with yellow walls, patterned tile floors, and striped floral curtains. The hotel attracts tourists from across the spectrum, including couples, and families and groups of friends drawn to its large rooms that can sleep up to four.
Location
On a main street in Catania, about a 15-minute walk to the historic center
Hotel Etnea 316 takes its name from its address on Via Etnea in Catania, Sicily's second-largest city. The street is filled with shops and restaurants, and Giardino Bellini park is across the street (a one-minute walk), while the botanical gardens are about a seven-minute walk away. The historic center, with such sights as the Piazza San Placido, the Cathedral of St. Agatha, and the 19th-century Teatro Massimo Bellini, is about a 15-minute walk from the hotel. The city's train hub, Catania Centrale, is a 20-minute walk, which is a bit of a hike with suitcases -- so most guests take taxis to the hotel. Catania Fontanarossa Airport is a 15- to 25-minute drive away. There's a taxi stand right outside the hotel, and buses are within easy walking distance. Limited on-site parking is available for a fee.
Rooms
Clean, spacious, country-style rooms can sleep up to four
The 12 country-inspired rooms at Hotel Etnea 316 are large, and they can sleep from one to four people. Rooms have either checked, tiled, or wood floors, and walls are light yellow. Ceilings are white, and some have retained their ornate, original molding. Traditional wood furniture, wicker seating, and wrought-iron beds round out the country look. Rooms come with air-conditioning, desks, and free Wi-Fi, and some rooms include mini-fridges and balconies, but amenities aren't exactly state-of-the art -- TVs are tube-style, and there are no coffee- or tea-making facilities, some past guests have complained about dark rooms and sagging beds. The white-tile bathrooms are a bit dated and cramped -- there are no bathtubs, only standing showers, and little storage space -- but they include bidets, and toiletries are provided.
Features
Cozy lounge, charming breakfast room, and exceptional staff
This is a modest, budget-friendly guest house, with few extras. There's a cozy TV and reading lounge, and a charming country-style breakfast room. A continental breakfast with cereal, bread, and fruit is included in most room rates (for guests who book their rooms online). Wi-Fi is free throughout the property. Limited on-site parking is available for a fee. What stands out here are the owner, Marco, and the staff, who are incredibly knowledgeable and eager to help with luggage and recommendations. Marco even arranges his own tours of area sights. Small pets are allowed at no extra fee.