Rooms

The 8 light-flooded and high-ceilinged rooms are simple and understated. Set on 2 floors, they have polished parquet floors, wood-beamed ceilings, whitewashed walls, ensuite bathrooms with walk-in showers, and matching striped upholstery on bedspread and curtains that adds a nautical touch. The fabric in each room is different, with colour schemes ranging from blue and olive, or restrained stone and slate, to jaunty egg-yolk yellow and scarlet in the attic room, where we stayed. Unusually for Sicily, a kettle and a selection of teas are provided.

The most spacious room is room 4, on the corner of the building with 2 balconies; but rooms 2, 3 and 5, each of which has a little balcony, are also a good size. Rooms 2 and 3 overlook a tree-lined street; rooms 4 and 5 have sea views - and these are the ones to go for if possible. Rooms 1 & 6 have a courtyard view; the cheapest rooms are 7 & 8, the 2 attic doubles with a skylight window and no view.

Features include:

• Hairdryer
• Minibar
• Safe box
• WiFi

Eating

Breakfast is served in the glass-fronted breakfast room that overlooks the bay. In summer you can also take breakfast on the small roof terrace alongside. Every morning, Fiora - a member of the Accademia Italiana della Cucina (and whose traditional recipes have graced cookbooks) - makes a cake or crostata (a tart filled with fruit or jam), while Gianmarco buys fresh bread and pastries from a local bakery. Add hams and cheese, yoghurt, cereal, pancakes with maple syrup, hard-boiled eggs, and an array of fresh fruit, and you may not need lunch. Scrambled eggs can be cooked to order. Drinks include fresh coffee and tea, we had thick hot chocolate and you can also squeeze your own orange juice. On Sundays tuck into cannoli, tubes of crisp deep-fried pastry filled with fresh, sweetened ricotta.

For other meals, you'll need to head out - just ask for recommendations. Try one of the many fish restaurants and traditional trattorie in Ortigia: Al Mazari near the Piazza Duomo is a favourite, we liked Dassena next door. Fiora's other son, Friedrich, has opened a charcoal grill & pizza restaurant, Piano B in the 'new town' across the bridge.

Features include:

• Breakfast
• Dinner by arrangement
• Kids' meals
• Lunch by arrangement
• Restaurants nearby
• Room service

Activities

• Wander around the pretty peninsular town of Ortigia, the historic heart of Siracusa, with its fabulous cathedral, Greek ruins, fortress, ancient buildings, narrow alleys and waterfront walks
  
  
• Bikes are available for free, if you prefer to explore on 2 wheels
  
  
• Book in for a cookery course with Fiora, which includes a trip to the market and learning about local wines. You might get to make typical dishes such as caponata, parmigiana and sarde a beccafico
  
  
• Embark on a boat trip around Ortigia
  
  
• Visit the vast archaeological park on the "mainland" town (a 15-minute walk). It contains the remains of the ancient Greek and Roman cities (theatres, quarries etc). Time it right and you can see a play staged in the Greek theatre (May-June)
  
  
• Enjoy lazy days in the coastal nature reserve of Vendicari, with its stunning beaches (some accessible on foot only) and bird-watching
  
  
• Head off on a day trip to the Unesco-listed Baroque towns of Noto (the nearest, 45 minutes' drive away), Modica, Scicli and Ragusa

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Birdwatching
• Boat trips
• Cooking classes
• Cycling
• Hiking
• Historical sites
• Museums / galleries
• Plantlife / flora
• Private guided tours
• Shopping / markets
• Swimming

Kids

Children of all ages are welcome, and parents will appreciate the relaxed ambiance. There's nothing at the hotel for kids so it's best for a short stay for the sights of Siracusa (which children will enjoy). Note that only 1 room category (the 2 Attic Doubles) can take an extra bed or baby cot, and that there are no bathtubs.

Family friendly accommodation:

The Attic Doubles, numbers 7 & 8, are large enough to take an extra bed or baby cot. These rooms only have skylights. You can also take numbers 6 (courtyard view) & 7 (attic) together as these are opposite each other with an extra door for more privacy.

Cots Available, Extra Beds Available

Distances:

• Airport: 1 hour
• Hospital: 10 minutes
• Shop: 2 minutes

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

L'Approdo delle Sirene is in the heart of Ortigia, the historical part of Siracusa, just across the bridge from the main centre.

By Air
Catania (60km away) is the nearest airport, but if you're touring the whole of Sicily you might fly to Comiso (113km away) or Palermo (289km away).

From the Airport
From Catania it's an hour south by road to Siracusa, mostly on a motorway (the A18). The drive from Comiso takes around 1.5 hours and from Palermo around 3 hours.

Transfers can be arranged on request. There's also a train from Catania, which takes 1.5 hours, and an intercity bus which takes just over an hour, but you'll probably want a hire car for your stay - see our car rental recommendations. There's 1 free dedicated car park space on the street beside the hotel, if this is taken, you'll need to unload and then park in a municipal car park just around the corner, or on the street nearby (reception will advise).

Detailed directions will be provided when you confirm a booking through i-escape.