The leafy pedestrianised street

nvestigate the sights and sounds of the hectic capital of Sicily on your doorstep but return to the haven provided by this elegant, spacious apartment. Sleeping up to three guests, Casa del Principe is uniquely situated above a pedestrianised street in the very heart of Palermo. The street boasts cafés and restaurants, and is very close to the Politeama theatre, one of the greatest sights and smartest areas that Palermo has to offer.

Indoors: Casa del Principe is accessed through a communal entrance at street level, and a secure steel gate limits access from the entrance hall to the staircase and lift. Casa del Principe is on the third floor and is arranged in an L-shape. The large lounge is lined with bookshelves and decorated to very refined tastes. In addition to comfortable sofas, a writing bureau and a desk, it also comprises the dining area and has a kitchenette adjoined to it. The bathroom is also off this main room.

The elegant living room

Kitchen corner & dining area

Next door to the living room is the double bedroom, and like the rest of the apartment, this is spacious with plenty of storage as well as air-conditioning and heating. The bed for a third guest is situated in the hall, and this enclosed room has been furnished for flexibility so that it can be used as a welcoming area or second seating area for couples travelling alone. A small lobby separates this hall from the door to the flat, which features a solid multilock.

Single bedroom/2nd living area

Master bedroom

Outdoors: Pedestrianised streets are a rarity in Palermo, where even crowded markets are seen as a sensible shortcut for scooters and the occasional car. Via Principe di Belmonte combines the relative peace acquired through the prohibition of traffic with its supreme location within the sophisticated theatre district, and this results in a multitude of cafés and restaurants, each with their own outdoor seating area surrounded by greenery. One of these, Antico Caffé Spiannato, is directly beneath the apartment block and was recently voted best café in Italy. Guests can pop down for a morning coffee at this sumptuous locale that offers up tempting pastries and cakes, or perhaps have a late-night drink there accompanied by piano music before returning upstairs to bed.

Via Principe di Belmonte

Surrounding area: On the opposite side of the apartment block in which Casa del Principe is situated, the immense theatre of Politeama dominates its own enormous piazza. Beautiful, and a fine example of Sicilian architecture at its best, this is only surpassed by the nearby Teatro Massimo, the largest theatre in Italy and the third largest opera house in Europe.

Heading towards the south end of the city, you can either take the direct route past the pretty boutiques of Via Roma or get tangled in the alleys and markets that run alongside it. These markets each have their own speciality, some bizarrely particular: a street near the church of Santa Caterina provides nothing but ironmongery, with craftsmen working metal in small shop fronts.

A colourful Palermo market

If Palermo gets too hot, a short bus trip to the seaside resort of Mondello Lido will be richly rewarded by the cool clear waters and golden sand. Even in the early spring, when the water is too cold for swimming, the seafood restaurants are well worth a visit. Monreale, 7km outside the city, enjoys fantastic views over the Conca d’Oro Valley and boasts a world-renowned Medieval Cathedral, built in a dazzling mixture of architectural styles.

The Teatro Politeama

Italian Islands Insight: Car hire is not recommended for guests at Casa del Principe, particularly since the public transport serving the manic road system has recently improved and there is a good train service. With its rich and diverse cultural heritage, Palermo is a year-round destination – ideal as a short city break or for a longer visit. Casa del Principe caters for this by offering both central heating and air-conditioning. It can even cater for those who are unable to leave work entirely behind - the flat has wi-fi connection and a laptop can be provided.

Mondello's long sandy beach

Casa del Principe is a great base from which to visit the capital city of Palermo, and nearby Monreale, home to the world-famous cathedral of "Santa Maria la Nuova". From Mondello, an hour or so away on autostrada or good roads, you can be transported to remarkable places and parts of Sicily, towns with impressive architecture, ancient Greek temples and archaeological sites, wonderful beaches, rugged mountains and agricultural landscapes.

Sightseeing: Palermo; Monreale; Cefalù; Castellammare del Golfo; Scopello; Zingaro Nature Reserve; San Vito Lo Capo; Segesta; Erice; Trapani; the Egadi Islands; Marsala; Selinunte; Porto Palo; Sciacca; Agrigento.

The street lit up at night

The owner of Casa del Principe has another flat in the same building, two storeys up. Casa Belmonte has a more modern theme that is reflected in some original and stylish furniture and contemporary paintings. It has a double and a twin bedroom, an extra shower room, and a dishwasher in its larger kitchen. (See Belmonte Gallery)

Not everyone will find Palermo’s juxtaposition of regal architecture and chaotic streets charming, but any visitor will appreciate the luxury and tranquillity that Casa del Principe has to offer – an oasis of calm in a dramatic, powerful and astonishing city.