Upon arrival in the city of many conquerors, the streets were filled with the people of Palermo flaunting the terraces. It was a delightful surprise to find such a lively neighbourhood on a Monday evening. The wheels of our suitcases were not created for the narrow, cobblestone streets of the historical centre as we entered Via Alloro...
The large antique front door was opened to us automatically, and as we entered the historic building and walked the medieval stairs, a strong smell of roman wine cellar reached our nostrils. A young Sicilian Allesandro met us halfway on the stairs, showed us the way to the apartment and immediately we felt we were good hands.
It was a beautifully satisfying cold breeze that layed upon our skin as we walked through the 10cm vault of a door that secured our apartment. Any doubts we may have had about the safety of our belongings was taken away on that instant. The apartment itself was magnificent... The interior design taste of Simona was more than worthy of being featured in ‘Cabana’ or ‘Residence’ magazine. The floor must have been tiled by Michelangelo himself, the 4000 year old ceiling must have lived through every war since the romans reached the Archipelago and walls were painted with a pistachio green, a colour that has been a dominant theme of our trip.
The love and care that our host Simona has given us has been beyond expectations. We could not have hoped for a more mesmerising experience.