About Me
I was born and raised in Catania, right at the foot of Mount Etna. My family still lives there, and I go back several times a year — not as a tourist, but home. I've been living in Germany, in Beckum, for a few years now, and that outside perspective is exactly what made me realize how bad most German-language Sicily guides actually are.
The same ten "hidden gems" over and over, often from people who spent a week on the island and hit the same three photo spots. No real prices, no honest opinions on what's actually worth it versus a tourist trap, no clue how to actually get to Etna by bus or where locals in Catania actually get breakfast.
Sicily Insider is my attempt to do it differently: articles built on real knowledge — my family, my own experience, current researched prices and schedules. I'm vegetarian myself, which means some recipes get an honest note on alternatives instead of just leaving it out. If a place is overpriced or overrun with tourists, I say so.
This site keeps growing — new articles, new regions, new recipes. The fastest way to reach me with questions, corrections, or topic requests is Instagram.
- 80verified places on the map
- 95articles and guides
How I decide what goes on this site
Every place is researched individually and, where possible, visited by me — opening hours and prices come from official sources at the time of research, not copied from other blogs. The interactive map shows when each point was last checked.
Photos are either my own or licensed shots that I personally match against the real place before they go live — no AI-generated filler passed off as a real photo, and no mismatched stock photo. If I don't have a real photo of a place yet, I say so instead of faking one.
Personal opinions are clearly marked as such ("my honest take"), kept separate from verifiable facts like prices or timetables. When something changes or I find a mistake, the article gets updated, not left stale.
Who is behind this site
Daniele Bellia — born and raised in Catania, now living in Beckum, Germany. I write every article on this site myself.