Catania CityLife according to Carlotta Ferlito

Five rings tattooed on her arm: an unmistakable sign that the Olympics were a dream she had nurtured since childhood. Carlotta Ferlito made it and in London 2012 was one of the most highly acclaimed athletes in Italian gymnastics. Reaching two finals, seventh place in the team event and 21^st in the all-round individual event she is one of the most promising gymnasts on the world gymnastic scene.

The 17 year old athlete from Catania became the idol of many young girls also thanks to her appearance in the reality show “Gymnasts – parallel lives”, which told the story of the lives, dreams, hopes and sacrifices of the girls that dedicate themselves to this sport.

Today Carlotta is the where she has lived for the last five years after leaving her home town of Catania. The distance however does not mean that she has forgotten her origins.

“What part of Catania are you from and where did you live in Sicily?”
“I was born and raised in Catania – she says – initially I lived in an apartment just a few minutes away from the seafront then we moved to between the ring road and San Giovanni Galermo.”

“Do you go back to the city very often?”
“It depends a lot on what I have to do and the competitions I’m preparing for – she explains – but generally I go back to Catania three or four times a year: in the summer, at Christmas and New Year and then at Easter.” Competitive sport means a lot of sacrifices.

“When you can bend a few rules what do you like doing when you go back to Catania?”
“When I go back to Catania its above all to relax, I go to the sea, especially to the beaches at La Playa; I go to the pool both in summer and winter. I spend a lot of time with my family or I go out with my friends and my older brothers.”

“Your favourite places?”
“The Planet cinema or getting a ‘nutella frappe’ in Piazza Trento.” Her favourite childhood places are also linked to the tastes and aromas of the region. We dive into the world of Catania culinary delights. What and where to eat? “If you had to recommend a bar to friends visiting Catania where would you ‘send’ them to sample the local delights?” “For ice cream and granita the best bar is the Sant Moritz, while for hot food like arancini (deep fried rice balls with mixed fillings), small pizzas and cartocciate (pizza parcels filled with cheese, ham and other ingredients) I suggest the bar Europa in Corso Italia “What’s your favourite dessert?” “Apart from granita, the desserts from Verona and Bonvegna are the best (Savoy Cake, strawberry tart and cannoli)” And Pizzerias?” “La Cantinaccia, the Blanc’ a Manger or the Pepe Nero on the seafront.” “What makes you feel really at home when you go back to Catania?” “Having my relatives around me, especially my parents, – she adds – sleeping in my own bed instead of a hotel room and seeing my old friends.”