Maison Dorèe

Just the location

The apartment was very dirty, air conditioning wasn’t working in one of the bedroom and we had to sleep in 2 in the other room. Washing machine wasn’t working.

A wonderful villa captured in time! Great location. The host was friendly and helped secure a taxi for us Bravo 👏

The location and old world charm was a perfect fit for Ortigia! I loved the antique styling and balcony views of the old buildings and sliver views of the sea in the morning. The morning and afternoon light was beautiful from inside the apartment. The location was steps away from the main plaza overlooking the sea, the fountains, duomo plaza, and many other shops and restaurants. It also had a washer in the upstairs bedroom and a great spot for larger groups. Also, don't forget to request the number of bedrooms you need. We assumed that if you booked any apartment, all bedrooms would be made up as would be in the United States. We booked many 2 bedroom apartments traveling as friends (not a couple) to intentionally seek separate bedrooms, but the hosts will assume that 2 people will share one bedroom. Makes no sense, but at least this host was experienced enough to ask us how many bedrooms we needed to use of the 3 bedrooms. The place was a 3 bedroom, but we only needed 2 rooms, so they didn't "make up or prepare" the third bedroom.

The host was not as accommodating with check-in as most of our hosts during our 2 week trip across our 6 apartment stays. Most other places offered early check-ins and if they couldn't accommodate, they would at minimum hold our luggage. He was firm to the 4pm check-in and would not store our luggage. He wasn't very helpful offering notes about parking knowing this was a residential area, so we had to do the research ourselves to get the address, but perhaps it was a language barrier. We also just asked around to other people walking their dogs that spoke english. I was also surprised they asked for a $300 CASH deposit the day before check-in. The toilet seat and toilet holder was broken in the master bedroom, the shower leaked water all over the floor upon use, the shower handles were complicated to use and some of the appliances such as the dishwasher were finicky as the place is very old. You could not use the kitchen door as it would break...the motto here was -- you can't touch this and needed instructions on how to do that. The host was kind, but also long-winded, particular and a little bit of a pain in the ass. He blamed me when the key broke inside the main entry door instead of trying to find a solution, but that's typical to the mentality of the older Italian generation. He was responsive when I called, but didn't offer much help except to complain that I broke the key. It was a flimsy key and a VERY OLD door lock, so be careful. The neighbors were extremely helpful and got the broken key out and another neighbor buzzed us in the building. Would I stay here again? Maybe... because the place was so unique and the location was great, but it could use some household improvements and a more accommodating host.

Elio was very welcoming. The apartment was spacious, charming, with beautifully ornate ceilings, a spacious outdoor balcony, as well as lots of little balconies. Location was fantastic.

There were a couple of intricacies to get the dishwasher to work. Given there were 6 of us, a second key would’ve been good.

The location was excellent. Close to the beautiful Piazza Duomo. Many restaurants and shops close by. The ceilings and floors were beautiful. The kitchen was modern and adequate for our needs, although we didn't do any cooking.

The furnishings are showing wear and the apartment needs some attention. The photos show a bit better than the apartment. There are numerous flights of stairs and luggage must be carried by hand. As there were 6 of us, my husband and I stayed in the "attic" as we were the only ones that could navigate the steep stairs. It has much to be desired. The washing machine and boiler are located in an adjoining closet and kicks on whenever someone uses the water. No shower curtain so the bathroom gets wet. The air conditioning didn't work, however we didn't really need it. The room is very small and the stairs are very steep. The mirror was on the floor and barely enough room to put two suitcases.The other rooms seem better. No toiletries. I would not suggest having 6 people stay here. The common areas are fine, but could use some additional decor.

The location was central with great access to all the key sites but also quiet with no foot traffic. The apartment had the ambience I was searching for, with painted ceilings and floortiles dating back to 1701. The furnishings were luxurious and we felt as if we were staying in a little palazzo.The beds were extremely comfortable but there was only one pillow per person with no spares. The kitchen was extremely well equipped with a luxurious fridge. Excellent washing machine. Split systems worked well even in the attic.

The apartment was hard to find with no number or name of the residence on the building. Our host dismissed our concerns and said it was on Google maps but as we had 10 minutes to find the property, unload and depart due to car restrictions in the old ciy of Ortygia this was a stressful arrival. There is no lift and access is up 3 flights of stairs with another narrow staircase to the third bedroom. The Welcome Message promised a drink, fresh fruit and toiletries, none of which were provided. The shower in the palatial main bathroom was blocked and I flooded the bathroom on its first use., as I am shortsighted. Paolo responded immediately to a message and wanted me to send a video, as he felt I didnt know how to use a dual shower head. I discovered the shower drain was blocked with an enormous hairball ,which was apparently then removed by the cleaner but the shower continued to drain insufficiently to run it for longer than a minute without another flood occuring. The WiFi was unuseable in the main bedroom and repeatedly dropped out throughout the apartment making streaming impossible. The water was not potable even through the fridge filter,a fact not communicated by our host. The door at the top of the entrance stairs had a non-functioning lock and we became locked in the apartment for about 15 minutes. Paolo had warned us not to shut the door but it closed accidentally and this is a fire hazard.

A spacious and comfortable apartment, ideal for a group of 6 people, it contains everything necessary for a comfortable holiday. But the most important asset is its past and location. If, in addition to comfort, you also want to spend a special time in a unique place, this 18th century building is a perfect complement to your stay in historic Ortyga. This city is alive until late at night, so even if you go to bed early, keep your windows closed at night, but don't worry, the apartment is quite quiet and air conditioning is working. Very good contact with the owner.

If you have to come by your own car, the nearest parking lot is 6-7 minutes away on foot.

The appartment has exceptionally beautiful ceilings and tiled floors. It is very spacious and is located near the Aretusa spring and the Duomo. I would recomend it to anyone wanting an authentic feel of a palazzo. Having trawled through most accommodation offerings on Booking.com in Ortigia I don't think there is anything like it in terms of historical grandeur. Would certainly stay here again. Close to bars and restaurants and the puppet theatre and miqweh.

Set in the heart of the beautiful historical center of the city of Siracusa known as Ortigia, Maison Dorée is the perfect mix between classic and modern. The style is inspired to the gattopardo, the house is beautifully located a few steps away from the piazza del Duomo and the Fontana Aretusa. Completely renovated, with a fully equipped spacious kitchen, comfortable big beds and 2 living rooms with frescoes all over the ceilings it’s the perfect match for those who want to spend an incredible time in Ortigia. Walking distance there is also a solarium where you can lay down on sunbeds and enjoy the clear waters of the island. I’ll definitely come back for a second taste.