Province of Syracuse accommodation from NZ$168

Awesome staff Very clean, great breakfast

I enjoyed four unforgettable days exploring beautiful Ortigia -staying at the Grand Hotel Ortigia, which is a 5-star luxury hotel overlooking the harbor. It is just a short stroll to the must-see landmarks such as the ruins of the Temple of Apollo, the Aretusa Fountain, and the renowned Cathedral of Syracuse. it was built in 1890 and was completely renovated while preserving its classic old-world charm with marble floors, Corinthian columns, and beautiful art-filled common areas. They have an upscale rooftop restaurant and lounge on the third floor, which serves a sumptuous breakfast buffet and has great outdoor seating with spectacular views. I went up to the terrace one evening to enjoy the sunset with an Aperol Spritz and some nibbles and, after the sun went down, an exceptionally talented young man beautifully played his violin serenading the guests. Parking in the old city is a challenge, and not for the faint of heart. But the hotel does have a small lot nearby, but which seemed to stay full and was hard to find. With the helpful staff, I was able to register my rental car to allow me to drive to hotel which is in the restricted tourist zone and I moved my car to their lot one evening once the crowds had dissipated a bit. The staff couldn’t have been more helpful and even helped arrange a small group boat tour. This hotel truly deserves its name the Grand Hotel Ortigia Siracusa!

Staying will be an extremely fond memory for my wife and I. After the first night, we both decided to make our stay here our official honeymoon. The view from our room allowed for an incredible view of Mt Etna. The staff is professional and polite and very friendly. The breakfast buffet is pretty outstanding with so many options. Unfortunately, we didn’t get to try the other restaurants but we were able to take advantage of the Lime Bar before leaving. They absolutely captured Sicily’s beautiful culture and atmosphere. We absolutely recommend staying at Mangia, hands down, with zero hesitation.