La Dimora di San Nicola

The apartments are fitted out to a high standard, and the daily housekeeping was excellent. The location is very central, and the staff were so friendly, especially Simone and Sabrina. The air conditioning worked really well. I would have liked to sit on the shared rooftop terrace, but it was just too hot. Our private terrace was too small to sit out on, though it was lovely to leave the doors open and read.

Ortigia is beautiful, with excellent restaurants and classic Sicilian street food. We stayed two nights, and the apartment was fresh, quiet, new, and very well equipped. I found it on Booking.com and it exceeded my expectations. Everything is within walking distance. There are two very good restaurants less than 50 meters away, and the daily food market is a two-minute walk. The location is ideal. You can drive onto Ortigia, and park for free 5-10 minutes away across the bridge, or use the Talete parking garage or the car park opposite the Palace hotel.

The space is very large, with separate bedrooms and a kitchen, and it's recently renovated and very clean. It also has a washing machine, kitchen, and TV. The ground floor doesn't have windows, so it can feel a little cramped; I'd suggest choosing the second or third floor. It could work well for a week or even a month. I paid around 55 euros a night in February, during the off-season, and think it's the best option in that price range.

I love the idea of hotel-style service in an apartment. The bathroom and kitchenette are beautifully renovated, mixing modern and antique styles, and the whole house has been completely redone. It's right in the heart of Syracuse. There's a lovely patio and a magnificent rooftop jacuzzi. Service was impeccable, with breakfast and wine available for delivery, and a big fruit basket waiting when I arrived.