Elle Dimora di Sicilia

Style

History-steeped romantic

Setting

Edged by Etna

Polished proof that small can be mighty, Elle Dimora di Sicilia brings a potent dose of storied romance to the historic heart of Catania. Its two meticulously designed bedrooms keep guest numbers to a minimum, allowing staff to pull out all the stops. The only thing you might find rivalling their attention to detail is the interiors, which are rooted in Sicilian history and subtly blend artisan-made furnishings with contemporary accents and colourful odes to the island’s landscapes.

Facilities

Rooms

Three suites.

Checkout

11am, and check-in is at 3pm. Both are flexible, on request and subject to availability.

More Details

Rates include an à la carte breakfast.

Also

Unfortunately, Elle Dimora di Sicilia isn’t suitable for guests with limited mobility since the space has been renovated from a converted apartment block, meaning stairs are steep and hallways are narrow.

Free Internet Access

Laundry

Room Service

At the Hotel

Rooftop terrace, charged laundry service (on request) and free WiFi throughout. In suites: TV, air-conditioning, minibar, Nespresso coffee machine, tea-making kit, free bottled water and Ferragamo bath products.

Our Favourite Rooms

Anfiteatro and Incanto are awash with historic charm and have their own amphitheatre-admiring balconies, so you’ll be spoiled with views as you unwind. If you’re in search of some Sicilian romance, check-in to Incanto, where a deep-soaking, in-room tub sits at the heart of the suite and welcomes seductive soaks.

Packing Tips

It’ll depend what you’re planning on doing: flowy linens are best for flâneurs, but Etna-enthusiasts may want to bring their walking poles and hiking boots.

Also

The hotel partners with a local gym, and staff will be happy to book you in if you’re craving a rush of endorphins.

Children

This rarefied retreat is for over-18s only.

Gallery

Food & Drink

Top Table

Breakfasts are best sampled on the rooftop terrace, where tables per due gaze over the amphitheatre and San Biagio church.

Dress Code

Your softest blues to compliment the cool tones of Sergio Fiorentino’s statement piece.

Hotel Restaurant

There’s no formal restaurant here; but head down to the blue-toned breakfast room come morning and you’ll be warmly welcomed with a Sicilian spread that boasts the best of this Italian island. Menus change often, but Catanese classics are the focus so expect plenty of brioche col tuppo, ricotta cannoli, traditional pastries, home-baked cakes and superbly syrupy coffee.

Last Orders

Breakfast is served from 8am to 10am.

Room Service

Dishes can be delivered to your door between 7.30am and 1pm.

Planes

Most European hubs fly direct to Catania-Fontanarossa Airport, around 20 minutes from the hotel by car. Private transfers can be arranged on request for €50 each way.

Trains

Catania Centrale is a five-minute drive from the hotel, and is served by Trenitalia, which has direct routes around Sicily and with Italy’s main cities, including Rome, Florence and Milan. Private transfers can be arranged to and from the station, for €30 each way.

Automobiles

Catania’s transport is well connected, so a car won’t be essential. If you decide to pick up a set of wheels, there are rental booths at the airport and the hotel has valet parking (available from 8am to 8pm) for €40 a day.

Worth Getting Out of Bed For

Elle Dimora di Sicilia puts you less than a 10-minute walk from Catania’s beating heart: Piazza del Duomo, famed for its Baroque buildings, grand Cattedrale di Sant'Agata and an 18th-century black-lava elephant who is said to help calm the rumblings of looming Mount Etna.

Food is where this Sicilian city thrives, and if you head to the Piazza’s northwest corner, you’ll emerge into its long-loved fish market, filled with the hectic hum of bartering locals. Taste your way through more of Catania’s cuisine (deep-fried arancini and polpette di cavallo will be frequent finds) with a street food tour that whisks you round its finest vendors. For self-guided, culinary forays head to Via Plebiscito in the historic centre, where stalls fill the street. Adventurers can take to the trails that surround Etna, and if you’d rather your walks be a little less heart-racing, visit the manicured gardens of Villa Bellini, just off Via Etna.

Earn or Redeem Points with World of Hyatt

This Mr & Mrs Smith hotel participates in the World of Hyatt loyalty program. As a member, you can earn and redeem points and enjoy exclusive benefits for qualifying nights. .