Grand Hotel Minareto, Siracusa, Sicily. So Sicily and such place to be.
I’ve been to Sicily couple of times before I finally arrived to Siracusa. It just happened that my travel winds didn’t get me there till certain point. Right time, right place. To be charmed and spellbound. Till the moment I arrived to Siracusa, I travelled in Sicily quite a bit, and I had my favourite places here and there. Sicily is an island, you know. Big island. Sea is a core of any island small or big. Yet you don’t feel the sea so essentially in Sicily before you arrive to Siracusa. When you are in Ragusa or Noto, you can forget for a moment that sea is close by. You can’t do it in Siracusa because Ortigia, the old town of Siracusa, is a peninsula. Sea is literally everywhere you go. Any small or big street takes you to the seawall. You are trapped by the sea, and this is amazing. Sea is on your table when you stop for a lunch, sea is in the eyes of every person you meet, this is a sea town through and through.
I arrived to Ortigia by boat, and my lunch was at the market, as simple and authentic as it can get, accompanied by tuneful shouts of vendors next to my unsteady table, and oh… the food to die for. I don’t know where I’ve got this soft spot for seaside people… probably from my great grand father who happened to be a sailor (true), but they are my people – salted, sun-dried, characteristic, straightforward and unpardonably happy. This is Ortigia.
I had few hours to walk around the town, get lost and found, chat with vendors in local boutiques, buy tremendously beautiful silk scarf from Ortigia brand and having one of those moments “I need to be back sometimes soon” because part of my soul was left there.
Grand Hotel Minareto, Siracusa, Sicily – place to stay to explore Ortigia.
But well… Where to stay if you want to explore Siracusa? There are few boutique hotels in Ortigia, but I would easily suggest Hotel Minareto, which is across the water from historical town, but love from the first glance. Well, it is not a hotel, it is a resort located on the peninsula in front of the Ortigia (with spectacular views of Ortigia, sure enough). What you have there: beautiful park, two beaches (one sandy, one rocky), tremendous views of the sea, 5 star deluxe accommodation for very reasonable rate, and so much more.
My stay came to off season when hotel was actually out of operation, so I was accommodating in the huge dream-looking villa way too big for me myself and I, but luxurious, and perfect for the family or couple. I had my own swimming pool, garden, gym, living, dining, full kitchen, and all this with full hotel services, surrounded by beautiful gardens, and with proximity to the sea. Sounds quite good, doesn’t it?
There are many accommodation options, and if villa is not your cup of tea, you may enjoy tons of other options, rooms and suites, very tasty decorated, some garden view, some sea view, some seafront, some with jacuzzi or private pools. And, ones again, the price range is exactly right and very human.
I could not stop myself from takin photos of gardens and seascape when I was at Hotel Minareto. Here are just few. Such a photogenic (or instagram-worthy if you prefer).
[email protected] at your disposal.
