Santuzza Hotel Catania

We’d booked Santuzza Art Hotel Catania from 31st to 1 Jan 2026, but early on the 31st they switched us to Agatha Hotel, saying their elevator wasn’t working. We had no real choice but to check in somewhere we hadn’t booked or chosen. Agatha had 16-20 stairs from the entrance to reception and no elevator, so we had to pull our luggage up. They put us in a small room on the same floor, much narrower than the one we’d booked at Santuzza Art Hotel. We paid EUR 160/ night in the off season for a stuffy, cramped room. Please don’t book Santuzza Art Hotel for your vacation, since they may move you to any ordinary, cheap hotel without even checking with you.

We had to take a bus from the airport, but once in town everything was within walking distance. The hotel is right in central Catania, with a lovely balcony view of Etna. Our rooms and the building felt authentic, with tile floors and a pretty ceiling, though there were cracks that didn’t bother me. The beds and bathroom were clean, the room had adjustable AC, and the receptionists were kind and answered our questions. We booked a five-day, four-night trip. The travel agency listed Santuzza Hotel Catania as three stars, but it’s really only two, so expect a simple room. There weren’t extras like slippers or much shower gel, just two small packs, but we managed. Breakfast was included daily, though nothing special or particularly Italian. At first there weren’t even plates, just napkins, and drinks were self-serve in plastic cups. There was no refrigerator in the room, either. The tourist tax was my main service complaint. It’s mandatory, and they’d said to expect 2-3 euros, but we had to pay 16 euros, money that could have covered a hearty meal. I’d only book here if you don’t plan to spend much time in the room during your trip.

Booking.com’s photos are misleading. The hotel was poorly maintained, with no water because of a malfunction, noisy and ineffective AC, cockroaches, and broken fixtures. Breakfast looked so unappetizing that I skipped it, and I left after one night. They have a No Refund Policy, which they use as an excuse not to refund you if you change your mind about staying there, for obvious reasons. For a better experience, book a nearby B&B Hotels on C.so Sicilia for just 10-15 euros extra. Memorable stay, in a bad way.

The room was clean, the service was great, and the price was good. It’s a bit dated, though, and a few things were broken, including the bedside light.