Comeinsicily - Rocce Nere

The location of our studio at Via Vulcano 9 in Giardini is great, but the place is in poor shape. The shower drain won't clear, paint is coming off the walls, the kitchen faucet is taped together, the TV doesn't work, and the washing machine is broken. Cleaning was lacking too, and the plates and cutlery are patched up. ComeInsisicily staff told us before we arrived that the washing machine was out of order, and promised it would be fixed or replaced the next day. It's Tuesday now and nobody has come, and we can't reach anyone by phone. It wasn't cheap, either. I wouldn't give this even one star. I don't think even a non-EU citizen arriving in Lampedusa gets treated like this.

Everything used to be perfect, and now the village is a complete mess. Thanks to the people who wanted the old administration gone, they even shut off the water in the outdoor showers. Go to hell, you ridiculous people!

At check-in, the bathrooms had no soap or toilet paper. The terrace had a good view, but it was dark because the light only partly worked, and there was debris there. You get to the private terrace by a secondary shared staircase. I stayed at the Recanati property, and the two rooms felt unsafe, with exposed electrical outlets and light fixtures. The windows were broken, one of them unsafe, and the boiler wasn't working. Be careful to inspect the place at check-in, and ask to check out in person. We were told to leave the keys inside, then later asked for a refund over their loss.

It's not a perfect place, but it's where I grew up, where I was a child, found love, and became a woman. I've always belonged here. My happiest memories are all here.