Ideal location to be able to park a car free of charge close by, walk into Ortigia or catch the hop on hop off bus to visit the Greek Theatre & Roman Amphitheatre etc. Arete B & B is in an old building with lovely high ceilings. Our room had been modified to accommodate an ensuite bathroom and looked out over the harbour to Ortigia Island. We would have preferred to have breakfast a bit earlier than 8.30am in order to start exploring well before the heat of the day but it was a good breakfast and set us up for two wonderful days exploring Siracusa and Ortigia.

Our room, in its somewhat retro style, was clean, spacious with a small balcony overlooking the harbour. This B&B offers an almost hotel-like service (change of sheets and towels every 2 days) and quality... but it lacks a little the human warmth that one is able to expect from a B&B. Our host was kind but distant (no advice,...) and not very interested in the stay of his tenants. The breakfast buffet, although varied, deserves a little more variety in its offerings; no pastries, only one type of bread (sandwich bread) only one cheese, 2 jams,... Its location (1 good km from the island of Ortigia) is ideal and there is no shortage of free parking spaces along the harbor. So good but could do better.