Porta di Castro Hotel & Spa

We left after one night and booked an AirBnB instead, something I've never done before. The hotel is in a good location and the staff were friendly, but the place was awful. I don't understand the high reviews, and calling it a 4 star hotel is laughable. I assume a lot of the reviews are fake. Our first room had such a strong mildew smell that we got headaches after two minutes. When we asked to move, the only option was an attic room. It didn't smell musty, but there were plenty of other problems. My husband couldn't stand straight because the ceilings were so low. It hadn't been cleaned properly, and used toiletries were on the shower floor. The bedspread was dingy gray and stained, the skylight was broken, and a big gap between the door and frame let light in all night. There were no bedside lamps, the sink was comically tiny and splashed water everywhere when you washed your hands, and there was no bathroom door. The only way out of the attic besides the tiny, slow elevator was a small, shaky spiral staircase. That worried me in case of a fire or other emergency. Compare my photos with the website pictures and you'll see the hotel isn't represented accurately. I'd avoid it at all costs.

After the hectic rental car drive from the airport, we were put at ease right away. Stephane (sp?) welcomed us, took me and our bags inside, and sat me at a table in a lovely modern library with quirky historical art and artifacts. There was already a treat and drink waiting. Then he went back out to help my partner park the rental car in their secure garage. We'd arranged that in advance and let them know when we'd arrive. We didn't need the car again for two days, since we could walk everywhere from Porto de Castro. This was our first visit to Sicily, though we've traveled in Italy often, and it was a perfect introduction to Palermo. We stayed April 6-8, 2026. We enjoyed hearing about the hotel's history and getting personal attention, plus a map of Palermo's four corners and suggestions for local restaurants. We arrived on Easter Monday, and I had a lovely dinner nearby with the main locals dining there. After dinner we happened to run into the owner, Alessandro, because we recognized his fabulous dog Samba. He suggested a special walk for that evening and helped us feel more at ease about walking in the neighborhood after dark. I've read comments saying the neighborhood where we stayed is unsafe, but that was simply untrue. Maybe someone unused to cities won't appreciate the mix of people or the block to block differences, but Palermo, including Ballaro, felt vibrant and special to us. Alessandro and his team truly care. He has real love for the city and for preserving the building and artifacts that house his hotel. I'd gladly stay again and recommend it to anyone visiting Palermo. Why stay in a tourist trap on the main drag, with postcards and t-shirts downstairs, when you can watch people hanging laundry across the way, a cart making a spremute d'arancia or pouring a limoncello, or a family grilling their Easter Monday dinner from your balcony window? Pause, take it all in, and let the city transport you. Take in the culture, be a traveler, not a tourist. Alessandro and Samba will welcome you.

The staff were wonderful and went out of their way for us. Our room was comfortable and clean, and the hotel is right in the center. The spa area was the best part, so relaxing. I highly recommend booking a massage while you're there. If I come back to Palermo, this is the only hotel I'd stay at.

Our stay left us feeling let down. The location was good, the hotel is pretty inside, the breakfasts were amazing, and the staff were warm and welcoming. They helped with questions about the area and even booked a last-minute taxi to the airport. They also decorated the bedroom for our birthday, which we appreciated. Still, several things fell short. There was a hole in the bathroom wall that let a cockroach in. We reported it in person and by email. In the email, staff said they found it dead, which was bizarre and untrue. We told the woman at the desk that we killed it after my friend found it crawling over his foot in the bathroom. Anyone who knows cockroaches knows they are social insects that often hide and travel in large colonies, so if there's one, there are usually a few more. The hot tub was out of order all weekend, Saturday and Sunday, even though it was one of the main reasons we booked. We appreciated being offered an hour in the pool and sauna, but that wasn't an equivalent replacement for private hot tub access in the room. We were also surprised to see cleaning products left in the bedroom, and toiletries weren't replenished during our stay. That wasn't the service we expected from a 4 star hotel. We had paid extra for pool access, then were told on arrival that it was closed for the season. We were then told we'd have to pay more to use the sauna and indoor pool, which felt misleading.