Stella Del Mar

The best part for us was having parking right inside the courtyard. The gate opens with a key, so you park in the yard itself. We also enjoyed sitting outside on a warm evening, surrounded by the flowers and plants that decorate both the room and courtyard so thoughtfully. Our room opened onto its own inner courtyard on the first floor of a private building. It was separate from the owner’s courtyard, and there are other rooms that may be set up differently. There were no stairs to deal with, and it felt almost like having a little private house in the city. The alley was very quiet, the sound insulation was good, and we neither heard nor ran into other guests. The bed was just right in size, mattress, and linens. The room was clean, with an older renovation but a pleasant shabby-chic style. The bathroom with shower was inside the room, and there were plenty of clean towels, a hair dryer, and shower gel. There was a small fridge, two wine glasses, Wi-Fi that worked well, and a TV. I would have liked an electric kettle, though there wasn’t one. It’s about a slow 15-minute walk to the historic center along a pretty route with cafes and restaurants. On the way, you can stop at Margherita Gardens (Giardini Margherita) and see the giant fish near the bridge over the lake, swimming close by and waiting to be fed. Just 20 m around the corner is «Murri 101», handy for a quick breakfast or coffee before heading out. They have changing ready-made options like sandwiches, salads, and scrambled eggs, and coffee costs 1.60 euros. «Napizz», 15 meters away, serves dinner after 19.00, with good pizza, spaghetti, salads, sandwiches, and wine. We had been in touch with a charming, friendly host through messenger before check-in, and she sent clear instructions for getting in. We were concerned that arriving late might be a problem since this isn’t a hotel, but access was easy. Since we arrived at night with everything closed, the bottle of water and Prosecco left in the room came in very handy. I really recommend this lovely place.