Hotel San Domenico

The host and proprietor were lovely, and the hotel felt welcoming and cosy. It’s a sleepy little town, but also the kind of place my friends won’t understand unless they visit. January and February leave Western Sicily, especially Erice, almost entirely to yourself. It’s hauntingly quiet, nearly enough to feel unsettling, like you’ve fallen on the pavement and can’t get up. The hotel was hard to find, though Erice as a whole is conceptually difficult to navigate when you first arrive. Even getting our compact car with its narrow turning radius around those absurdly tight medieval streets became part of the charm. The wind up on the escarpment howls enough to rattle the modern windows slightly in their frames. It was chilly, but bundle up and it’s fun. If my ratings seem low, it’s only because this is a rustic hotel/inn, not one of the grand city-center traditions in Venice, Rome, Milan, or Florence.

The host was lovely and helped me find parking close to the hotel in those narrow cobbled streets. They even helped with some paperwork printing. The hotel was very clean, an old building renovated beautifully. It’s in a lovely setting high on a hill, and the upper suite has stunning views across the countryside. Fantastic place.

A lovely place with a good atmosphere and helpful staff. It’s a nice spot to unwind, then walk along the old Roman streets.

At the highest point, the hotel is quite a walk after you come through the arch from the cable car, pass the square, and continue uphill. The lady kindly brought our luggage in her Smart car. The hotel is lovely and very clean, small but carefully maintained with no details neglected. Breakfast is minimal, so I’d put a bit more effort into it. The real downside is the extremely noisy toilet. You hear it from your room and from the rooms next door, too. What a shame. The lady deserves the highest stars, congratulations!