Alma Hotel

The seven-room Alma Hotel is a tiny property that occupies the fourth floor of a converted office building with other hotels on other floors, and occasionally it can be hard to spot. Neither the building's exterior nor its lobby are promising, but once visitors make their way up, they'll find a clean and modern, if minimalist, property. The vibe is more city bed-and-breakfast than hotel, mostly due to the owners and hosts, Paolo and Antonella, who are welcoming, hands-on, and full of advice about where to go and what to do -- their helpfulness is part of what makes the stay here great. 

Located on a bustling one-way street a half-block from Palermo's old town, Alma Hotel is ideally located to see top sights. This is particularly important  because Palermo is Sicily's largest city and can be very difficult to drive through. A five-minute walk away, Palermo's Massimo Theater is the biggest opera house in Italy. Visitors heading toward the harbor (a 15-minute walk) may want to make the slight detour to walk down the elegant Via Principe di Belmonte to get there. Palermo Cathedral is about 10 minutes by bus, and the stop is located a four-minute walk away. For history buffs, the Regional Archaeology Museum is seven minutes away on foot. 

One of Palermo's -- and Sicily's -- must-visits is an open-air market. Sicily's climate means that produce can grow year-round, and a trip wouldn't be complete without sampling some of the island's fresh fruits and vegetables. Two great markets are close by: Ballaro street market dates back to at least the 10th century, and it's where vendors loudly hawk traditional foods like chickpea fritters. It's a 15-minute bus ride from the hotel (the stop is a four-minute walk away). Mercato Vucciria, slightly younger at just 700 years old, is 12 minutes on foot -- but get there early if you want the day's best produce. 

Plenty of restaurants and shopping are nearby as well: the excellent Tribeca Cafe is just around the corner, and two minutes away on foot is Via della Liberta, Palermo's main shopping street. Palermo's central train station is a 13-minute direct bus trip away, and the airport is 40 minutes by taxi (though allow extra time for the city's traffic). The hotel also offers transfers to and from the airport. 

Though minimally furnished, rooms are spotlessly clean and tick all the three-pearl boxes. Small by American expectations, Standard Rooms are 16 and 20 square meters (172 and 215 square feet, respectively), depending on whether there's a balcony; however suites are much larger at 45 square meters (484 square feet). The modern, minimalist rooms are decorated in shades of gray and pops of primary colors: above the bright-red bed frame, for example, a black-and-white photo dominates the pale-gray wall. 

Furnishings are efficiently basic (although the memory foam mattress is a definite plus) and cover the three-pearl basics: There's a minibar and safe next to the glass-topped desk and a flat-screen satellite TV above it. There's also a garment rail with a hanging shelf. Bathrooms are small with a glass shower but come stocked with toiletries and a hairdryer. Rooms facing the street shouldn't be bothered too much by noise; however, ask for a room over the interior courtyard for a truly quiet stay. 

Breakfast, which is included, is not to be missed: Although Palermo (and Sicily as a whole) abounds with bakeries, the freshly baked cakes and cannoli -- made by Antonella from family recipes -- should be the first stop before visitors head out the door. Meats, cheeses, and fruits are also available. The dining room, like the bedrooms, is simply decorated, with identical tables to the desks in the room and a landscape photo of Palermo on the walls. 

Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the property. There is a daily charge for parking, but it's relatively inexpensive and far easier than trying to find parking on Palermo's tight streets.