Il Campanile — Restaurant in Catania

VIZZINI||||B&B Il Campanile Vizzini is a converted convent that turned out to be a pretty decent B&B. Four clean, comfy rooms, decent plumbing, lots of hot water, good room-temp control, comfortable double beds. Michele took my initial booking, then went on 3-week vacation in US, leaving only owner Antonio (no English) to answer phones & email. Many phone calls & emails later, Michele called me in Arizona(!) finally confirming my booking.||||Altho’ unavailable and incommunicado for 3 weeks, I found him to be a very professional front-desk host—whenever he was on-site. A Vizzinise, educated lover of art and history, he worked limited hours at the hotel—a real problem,as you had to hope that owner Antonio was available if needed, & then you had to speak Italian! E.g., one night all the lights were out in the hallway where rooms were located. Pitch dark. Unable to see the open stairway! Had to feel my way back to my room to call Antonio. ||||Owner of the on-site restaurant, Antonio takes pride in his role as “lo chef,” is friendly, loquacious (always Sicilian) and eager to prepare “something you want” from his gleaming, well-equipped kitchen, which he proudly showed me. Here, he bakes Sicilian pastries daily for the colazione: croissants, ricotta-filled cassatelli, and more. “Frutta?” actually was pear or orange juice. Espresso your way. Work-in-progress the day I left was a stone wood-fired oven. I didn’t learn until my final day that I could order eggs my-way. That morning, he gladly brought me and my new-found friend (a Sicilian woman who, like many Sicilians, lives in Australia) a perfect soft-cooked egg in a proper egg cup. I actually swooned with each spoonful of that egg! In the beautiful, peaceful courtyard with murals by Vizzinisi painter S.Pisana.||||I arrived on the feast day of Vizzini’s patron saint, San Gregoria, and most stores and eateries were closed. I was not told that Antonio’s restaurant would be closing in 2 days while he went on-holiday. Thus, limited menu, but pizza was decent, and I had a huge, mixed salad, enough for 3! King Restaurant was not open, and Amoroso was OK, with a varied menu of typical pasta, some seafood, burgers. Except for beer, I passed up the bars with reheated pizza or lasagna, and take-away snacks. Fresh ricotta not available anywhere as it was still hot, post-ferragosta time. S. Gregoria parade, with venerated saint and a rousing marching band (loved it!) followed a winding route to the beautiful basilica through festively lighted streets, ending with superb fireworks literally up-close to the B&B. A must-see in the lower town is the 50-step stairs with colorful tiles representing families. I gave it a 3 but it could be on its way to earning a 4. If Michele were available regularly for more hours, and perhaps with additional host-staff at night, this B&B could become a great place to stay.||||Maybe I had unreal expectations about finding geneology info for my grandfather’s mother. Staff at Uffici Demografici too busy to help, told me to write for it. Sorry, Aussie336 & V’bonda…despite the feast day, the town felt deserted and colorless to me the next day too. Even the park lacked color, except for one forlorn flower, & I never saw anyone sweeping up litter. So, with Antonio’s restaurant closing, and no acceptable options on Monday (Cunziria was closed), I was disappointed in Vizzini and left after 2 days. Still,I sensed a closeness to my roots among very welcoming people. ||||Alas, too late I discovered a wonderful “salumeria” (deli-plus) just around the corner. Missed it, as I couldn’t see inside, & it always looked closed! What a loss: milk, yogurt, fruit, cereals, canned items, hot & cold dishes—everything for take-out to eat at your B&B! Ah, what a loss! But I did buy a ham and cheese panini and my favorite seckel pears for my ride to Modica by Valerio, nephew of Antonio: Busacca Bus, 366-159-5193. Spoke limited Eng., but was prompt, courteous, about 70e. Eng., but was prompt, courteous, about 70e. Also drove me from Catania to Vizzini. https://www.tripadvisor.com: Car service from Catania toVizzini alsoB&B-Sicily.html||||I'll send photos after I've...

VIZZINI||||B&B Il Campanile Vizzini is a converted convent that turned out to be a pretty decent B&B. Four clean, comfy rooms, decent plumbing, lots of hot water, good room-temp control, comfortable double beds. Michele took my initial booking, then went on 3-week vacation in US, leaving only owner Antonio (no English) to answer phones & email. Many phone calls & emails later, Michele called me in Arizona(!) finally confirming my booking.||||Altho’ unavailable and incommunicado for 3 weeks, I found him to be a very professional front-desk host—whenever he was on-site. A Vizzinise, educated lover of art and history, he worked limited hours at the hotel—a real problem,as you had to hope that owner Antonio was available if needed, & then you had to speak Italian! E.g., one night all the lights were out in the hallway where rooms were located. Pitch dark. Unable to see the open stairway! Had to feel my way back to my room to call Antonio. ||||Owner of the on-site restaurant, Antonio takes pride in his role as “lo chef,” is friendly, loquacious (always Sicilian) and eager to prepare “something you want” from his gleaming, well-equipped kitchen, which he proudly showed me. Here, he bakes Sicilian pastries daily for the colazione: croissants, ricotta-filled cassatelli, and more. “Frutta?” actually was pear or orange juice. Espresso your way. Work-in-progress the day I left was a stone wood-fired oven. I didn’t learn until my final day that I could order eggs my-way. That morning, he gladly brought me and my new-found friend (a Sicilian woman who, like many Sicilians, lives in Australia) a perfect soft-cooked egg in a proper egg cup. I actually swooned with each spoonful of that egg! In the beautiful, peaceful courtyard with murals by Vizzinisi painter S.Pisana.||||I arrived on the feast day of Vizzini’s patron saint, San Gregoria, and most stores and eateries were closed. I was not told that Antonio’s restaurant would be closing in 2 days while he went on-holiday. Thus, limited menu, but pizza was decent, and I had a huge, mixed salad, enough for 3! King Restaurant was not open, and Amoroso was OK, with a varied menu of typical pasta, some seafood, burgers. Except for beer, I passed up the bars with reheated pizza or lasagna, and take-away snacks. Fresh ricotta not available anywhere as it was still hot, post-ferragosta time. S. Gregoria parade, with venerated saint and a rousing marching band (loved it!) followed a winding route to the beautiful basilica through festively lighted streets, ending with superb fireworks literally up-close to the B&B. A must-see in the lower town is the 50-step stairs with colorful tiles representing families. I gave it a 3 but it could be on its way to earning a 4. If Michele were available regularly for more hours, and perhaps with additional host-staff at night, this B&B could become a great place to stay.||||Maybe I had unreal expectations about finding geneology info for my grandfather’s mother. Staff at Uffici Demografici too busy to help, told me to write for it. Sorry, Aussie336 & V’bonda…despite the feast day, the town felt deserted and colorless to me the next day too. Even the park lacked color, except for one forlorn flower, & I never saw anyone sweeping up litter. So, with Antonio’s restaurant closing, and no acceptable options on Monday (Cunziria was closed), I was disappointed in Vizzini and left after 2 days. Still,I sensed a closeness to my roots among very welcoming people. ||||Alas, too late I discovered a wonderful “salumeria” (deli-plus) just around the corner. Missed it, as I couldn’t see inside, & it always looked closed! What a loss: milk, yogurt, fruit, cereals, canned items, hot & cold dishes—everything for take-out to eat at your B&B! Ah, what a loss! But I did buy a ham and cheese panini and my favorite seckel pears for my ride to Modica by Valerio, nephew of Antonio: Busacca Bus, 366-159-5193. Spoke limited Eng., but was prompt, courteous, about 70e. Eng., but was prompt, courteous, about 70e. Also drove me from Catania to Vizzini. https://www.tripadvisor.com: Car service from Catania toVizzini alsoB&B-Sicily.html||||I'll send photos after I've...

Il Campanile is an Old Convent converted into a Hotel This was truly a special experience from beginning to end.

Our host was extremely accommodating and helpful with excellent recommendations for places to visit and anything else we needed it. All the staff were welcoming, helpful and friendly.

We had beautiful views from our room that was fantastic, Large Comfortable bed and Breakfast is AMAZING with loads of choice, very delicious.

Very good location you are in the Centre of Vizzini Everywhere is within walking distance.

We will certainly come back :) I would highly recommend this place to anyone.

We would rate them 10 out of 5 if that was possible.

Thank you Elvira...