Why choose us

Apart from such facts as:

• Our unique central location
• Staying with us means having all of Palermo “at your fingertips”
• The exceptional “value for money”
• The elegance of our home.
• The spacious rooms furnished with all comforts.

Apart from these we believe there are other good reasons to come to us, but you will have to find these out for yourselves as they are not verifiable in the net!

• Our hospitality
• Our excellent breakfast with local produce
• Our library full of books on Sicily
• Our extensive knowledge of this splendid city which we are eager to share. For example, did you know why there is a sword dangled on the archbishop's palace door? If you would like to know.

In 1160 William I reigned with the attitude of an eatern sovriegn, whilst true power was in the hands of the Admiral Maione da Bari. Fomented by the archbishop Ugo, discontent swept through  the clergy and nobility, who pushed to put William II on the throne, notwithstanding the fact that this latter was still a child.

In order to protect the king and himself, Maione attemted to poison the archbishop, but the plot failed. At this point, Ugo informed Matteo Bonello, a gentleman from Cacciamo and head of the military.

Bonello also had a personal score to settle with Maione. The latter had been bethroted to Bonello's daughter, only to abandon her when he recieved the favours of a princess.

Bonello faced Maione and killed him. Ugo asked for the sword that had killed Maione and had it put up above the doorway, as an eternal reminder of political strength – a reminder still standing in its place to this day.

(Pietro Zullino “Guide to the mysteries and pleasures of Palermo” Sugar ed.1973)