Le Suites del Duomo

Each room has a balcony over the square, great for pictures, and ours was spacious and very clean, with marble flooring, good showers, and a bidet. The building sits right on the square in the very center, with rooms facing the fountain and cathedral. One small thing: hand soap and body wash come in little plastic packets, which could be replaced with large refillable bottles. It's a busy tourist spot, so it gets noisy quite late. You can still hear the square through closed windows, so bring earbuds if you need them to sleep.

We booked for the advertised position overlooking the duomo and piazza, but scaffolding covered the front of the building and our balcony, spoiling the view. We should have been told about it, and shouldn't have had to pay full price when the Duomo view was the main reason for booking. Finding the entrance was difficult, and it wasn't clear where to get the room key. There's usually a staff member at a table on the first floor landing. More information about finding and entering the building and reception would help. A tiny one person lift is there for luggage, though it's easy enough to use the stairs if you're alone. It's a large, old style building with many apartments, and the shared stairway was a bit dirty. Our apartment and bedroom were spacious and had character, with room for a couch and a bathroom. The marble floor and working air conditioning were nice.

The location was nice and the bed comfortable, but the stay was a mess. We booked two nights by phone with Alessandra. After the first night, the shower backed up and flooded, leaving a horrendous smell, and we couldn't reach management until morning. Around midday, they called to say someone else was checking into our room, even though we had reserved it for two nights. They had no other room for us, so we had to find somewhere at the last minute. We asked Vanessa for a discount since we couldn't use the facilities. She seemed sympathetic, but we got no compensation because they said the backup wasn't their fault. It wasn't ours either, and we still had to pay. Very unprofessional, and I wasn't impressed.

The rooms are simple, brand new, and have everything needed. The price felt fair for such a good spot, right in the center of Catania. Staff were friendly, helpful, and flexible, and communication went smoothly. We did have a small clog in the sink, though I can't fault them for it since we never told the staff. I'm sure they would have dealt with it. I'd recommend it.