THE SPACE Located on the first floor of a beautiful building from the 1890’s, “Suite 18” measures about 80 square meters and offers a refined combination of classical elegance and modern creativity. GROUND FLOOR The front door takes you into an open-plan space with a well-equipped kitchen and a dining area; right next to it, you enter the beautiful living area, always flooded with light, with vaulted ceiling and a balcony with an enchanting view of the sea and the harbor. A comfortable and large sofa, two armchairs and a large flat screen TV make this room ideal for relaxing and reading; you’ll find a selection of books in Italian, English and German. Next to the balcony, an extendable round table will be the perfect place for your morning coffee, sunset aperitifs and romantic dinners. From the balcony, furnished with a table with two chairs, you can follow the coming and going of the boats in the port and enjoy the Sicilian sun with its spectacular sunsets. An elegant bathroom with large shower completes the living area. MEZZANINE On the mezzanine floor, the master bedroom has an en-suite bathroom with large shower and a comfortable wardrobe. SERVICES KITCHEN It is fully equipped to cook at home and to enjoy the experience of cooking Sicilian dishes (why not?). It features cutlery, dishware, cookware, various cooking utensils, wine and water glasses, dish cleaning supplies; fridge with freezer, 4 burner hob, oven, kettle, toaster, electric juicer, traditional caffettiera, French press, electric coffee machine (with pods). Some essential food products are also available (salt, pepper, olive oil, oregano, chilli pepper, balsamic vinegar, coffee, sugar, water, tea and herbal teas, croissants) a bottle of water in the fridge and some almond cookies, typical of the area, as a welcome. BATHROOMS Both bathrooms have a large shower, sink, toilet and bidet. Some personal hygiene products (shampoo, shower gel, toilet paper, soap) and a hair dryer(one for each bathroom) are available for guest use. LINEN You will find quality bed/bath/kitchen linens included in the price: for stays of at least 5 days, you will also have a complete change of towels; for longer stays, I will provide you with a weekly change of towels and sheets (no extra charge). The linen is professionally washed to meet sanitary standards and remove bacteria and spores ("LAUNDRY SPA", Avola, SR). LAUNDRY The apartment is not equipped with a washing machine but you will find a water laundry at a short walking distance. If you prefer to hand wash your clothes, you'll find two basins, some detergent, a drying rack, an ironing board, and an iron in the apartment. INTERNET WI-FI is fast, free and unlimited AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM Hot/cold air conditioning system in all rooms. BEACH EQUIPMENT 2 beach towels and 2 sun umbrellas are available for your days on the beach. BICYCLES If you like cycling, 2 bikes are available for you in the courtyard of the building. Free service. TRANSFER Transfer service from/to Catania airport with a professional driver available (price on request). CHILDREN Suite18 is an excellent choice for a romantic holiday or two couples of friends. It is also an ideal location for a family holiday: the little ones will find a travel cot, a high chair, a changing mat, baby wipes, plug covers, some baby care products (baby shampoo and bath foam) and a basket full of toys. All these amenities are free of charge. Children up to 2 years stay for free. SENIOR GUESTS The location on the first floor (served by an elevator), the tranquillity of the building and the proximity of shops and services make the apartment a great choice for a peaceful and carefree stay. SMART WORKERS The house is particularly suitable for those working from home, who want to live a unique experience in a beautiful city, with a mild climate throughout the year and a relaxed atmosphere. WIFI is fast and unlimited. EXTRA GUESTS Extra guests sleep on the comfortable double sofa bed in the living room where they can enjoy an enchanting sea view. YOUR SAFETY IS OUR MAIN CONCERN! We already have a very high CLEANING STANDARD but, in this particular period, we are taking further precautions for your safety with scrupulous use of disinfecting and sanitizing products. THE SURROUNDING AREA Although the apartment is tranquil (the balcony overlooks the sea and the windows give onto a bright internal courtyard ), it is located in one of the most animated and fascinating areas of the magical island of Ortigia: Piazza Duomo, the Temple of Apollo, the Aretusa Fountain are steps away and, in a few minutes you'll be lost in a myriad of charming streets enriched by wonderful Baroque palaces, churches, secret courtyards, shops, restaurants and bars. At the Marina, a few meters from the building, you can rent a boat or take a guided boat tour and enjoy our beautiful sea; less than 5 minutes on foot, a beautiful solarium will allow you to sunbathe and swim in one of the most beautiful areas of Ortigia (Solarium LoungeBar, Via della Marina di Ortigia); less than 20/30 minutes on foot you can reach a delightful beach (Calarossa Beach) which is located on the other end of Ortigia. If you love Sicilian cuisine, the area offers an infinite variety of restaurants and beautiful cafes and, if you like living like a local, you can shop in our colourful daily market (less than 5 minutes walking distance) where you will find fresh fruit, vegetables, fish and other typical products and immerse yourself in a unique folkloristic atmosphere. "Suite 18" is about 10 minutes by car from the A18 and is the ideal starting point for day trips to Noto (30 minutes), Marzamemi (45 minutes), Vendicari nature reserve (40 minutes), Palazzolo (25 minutes ), Ragusa, Modica, Scicli (about 1h, 30). If you love the sea, in 20 minutes by car you can reach some of the most beautiful seaside areas of Syracuse (Terrauzza, Fontane Bianche, Arenella). If you prefer less touristy beaches, I will recommend my favourite places. "Suite 18" is easily accessible by car, with free paid parking areas just a few minutes from the apartment but, if you do not want to use it, you can easily reach all the points of interest in Syracuse on foot. If you like cycling, you can use the 2 bicycles available; in the immediate vicinity, there are also numerous options for renting a scooter or a “Vespa”. You could also organize a ride with the “ Apecar”, a funny 3-wheeled vehicle (with driver), typical of this area. If you prefer to rent a car after your arrival, a few meters from the apartment, you will find two car rental agencies. PARKING Near the apartment, there are several parking alternatives: If you prefer to park free of charge, the nearest free parking area is in Via Riva Forte Gallo (about 4 minutes from the apartment). If you are looking for a car park, the nearest one is Marina Parking (2 euros per h.), a two-minute walk from Suite18; it is a good choice if you need to unload your luggage at the apartment. The Talete parking (Lungomare Elio Vittorini), and the Molo S. Antonio parking ( via Bengasi / via Rodi) are both about a 5-minute walk from the apartment and they are much larger (1.50 euros per hour, 15 euros per day). Less than 10 minutes from Suite18 you will also find a private garage, Garage la Mesa (via dei Mergulensi 14). In Ortigia you can park for free in the spots with white lines. The nearest free parking area is next to Talete Parking. Avoid the yellow stripes that indicate the places reserved for residents; you can park in the parking spots with blue lines buying a ticket at a tobacconist. CHECK-IN/CHECK-OUT Check-in is from 3 pm to 8 pm and check-out is at 10 am; whenever possible, I will do my best to meet your needs. I am always glad to welcome my guests in person and to show them the apartment; SELF-CHECK-IN is AVAILABLE ON REQUEST: there is a small combination box near the entrance; I’ll send you detailed instructions before your arrival and I'll be in touch with you in case you need help. I own another apartment in Ortigia, located in a beautiful pedestrian square (Piazza Mergulensi): "SUITE LA PIAZZA" (Property no. 8809430). ---LONG STAYS--- Suite18 is the ideal place to relax and recharge. It is a quiet and comfortable home located in the heart Ortigia, a magical place with a unique atmosphere and a mild climate all year round. If you love the sun and you need to slow down, the apartment is ideal for LONG STAYS. A weekly change of linen is included in the price. SUITE18 has been recently published in the online American interior design magazine "Apartment Therapy" (http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/a-sea-side-day-dream-inducing-italian-apartment-247660).