Sciala Ortigia B&B

Martina and her staff were friendly, professional, knowledgeable, and very attentive. Breakfast offered plenty of variety, with dishes replenished often, and eggs and coffee made fresh to order. Because the breakfast room has limited seats, guests are assigned meal times. My room was spacious, clean, and carefully furnished in a Retro and Desert Deco style. It had soundproof windows facing a narrow street that was noisy in the day but fairly quiet at night. There was no fridge or coffee maker in the room, which was a little disappointing, though both were available to share in a common area. The water pressure and hot water temperature were up to international standards. Guests are asked to put used toilet paper in the bathroom bin instead of flushing it, a request that sounds odd and inconvenient but is justified by the island's long-standing plumbing problems and some guests' carelessness. The B&B is on part of the high second floor of an old mansion, reached by 35 steps. There's no elevator, and heritage restrictions mean one cannot be installed. Traffic restrictions also mean vehicles cannot reach the hotel, so from Archimede Square you apparently need to walk along a cobblestone street. It's in the heart of Ortigia, just 67 steps from Piazza Duomo, and worked well as a base for Syracuse and the surrounding area. A positive stay.

After wandering the old city, it was lovely to come back each evening to such a comfortable, clean place in a beautifully restored historic building. The attention to detail really brought the building to life, and we felt like we were staying in a little palace. Our room was large and very comfortable. The location is right in the city's centre, with easy walks everywhere. Alessia, Martina, Barbara, and Lucia were all caring and friendly, and made the stay special. Breakfast was fresh, healthy, and delicious, and Barbara was attentive and made a tasty omelette. We loved being here and would highly recommend it as a welcoming home away from home.

We explored the historic streets, shops, and restaurants of Ortigia and Syracuse on foot from here. I was unsure about the parking arrangement at first, but it worked without a hitch: we had permission to enter the restricted zone, a parking attendant met us and took the car to a private lot, and the walk back was short. The building is very old and has the feel of a palace, which made meeting the hostess at the front door a little intimidating. Upstairs, though, the B&B is bright, modern, clean, and beautiful, with an inviting reception area and antique touches throughout. Our large room had a very comfortable bed and a small balcony opening onto the street, yet it stayed quiet. Breakfast in a separate dining room was pleasant, with a good range of typical Italian dishes. I'd return to Ortigia or Syracuse just to spend more time here.

Finding the B&B takes some effort: the sign is easy to miss, and you have to press the intercom. You can't drive right up to it, though you can drive into the square or Piazza del Duomo. It's in a charming old building beside the lemon shop, and they handled the ZTL permit efficiently. The place is amazing and worth the little hassle.