Live like Royalty in the Sicilian hometown of Inspector Montalbano

Fans of cult Sicilian detective drama Inspector Montalbano are in for a treat when they stay at a newly refurbished Palace bearing his name. Palazzo Montalbano opened in July 2016 as a luxury bed and breakfast with four sumptuous suites in the heart of Scicli a UNESCO World Heritage town in southeast Sicily.

About Palazzo Montalbano

Palazzo Montalbano is no ordinary bed and breakfast. An 18th Century Sicilian Baroque splendour, the Palazzo is privately owned by one of Scicli's great families.

The Palazzo recently underwent a radical restoration to return it to the grandeur of its 18th century heyday. The elegant architecture of its facade and residential space have been retained whilst adapting the interior of the Palazzo to the luxuries of modern life.

Each of the four bed and breakfast suites has been uniquely designed with a different theme reflecting Sicilian Baroque style. Every fixture and fitting from the original floor tiles to Murano glass chandeliers is an original piece. Two of the suites have adjoining bedrooms for families and one of them has its own kitchen.  All four suites have ensuite modern bathrooms, cable TV and wifi as well as king-sized beds.

Guests staying at the Palazzo have access to a grand communal lounge where they can sip complimentary drinks, browse free magazines and share stories from their day.  If the weather is good – and it mostly is – there is also a private terrace with views over the warm facades of the town from which to enjoy local wines, snacks or Prosecco. Delicious Sicilian breakfasts are usually served on the sheltered breakfast terrace.

As you'd expect from a place frequented by aristocracy, nothing is too much trouble for guests.  Local food & wine or personal shopping tours can be organised and in-room massage services are available.  

About Scicli, UNESCO World Heritage town

Southeast Sicily is a charming land that oozes the tale of its colourful human and geographical history. Scicli, pronounced 'sheekly' nestles amongst limestone hills along with its better-known and more visited neighbours of Noto and Modica. The towns of the area are all linked by the architectural style of the reconstruction that followed a devastating earthquake in 1693.

This reconstruction gave rise to the Sicilian Baroque, influenced by neoclassical and rococo styles and laden with symbols of joy, sadness and triumph against adversity. UNESCO recognized the importance of this unique architecture and granted World Heritage Site status to the towns of the area.

Although Scicli shares its architectural heritage with other towns in the area, it also has some unique attractions of its own, including a neatly kept centre, fine stonework, fantastic restaurants and a dramatic situation in a basin overhung by churches and monasteries on high crags.

More recently Scicli has been used as the location for the internationally acclaimed TV series Inspector Montalbano. Viewers wandering around its narrow streets will recognise scenes from the show and Montalbano tours are a popular option for guests.

Beach lovers have access to some pristine Mediterranean beaches just 10 minutes drive away Scicli: Donnalucata, Sampieri and Cava d'Aliga just to mention a few.

How to get to Scicli

The closest airport Comiso is just 30 minutes drive away. Ryanair operates twice weekly flights from London Stansted, and on a daily basis from Italy and other European destinations.

The main airport serving the area is Catania, 1.5 hours away. Catania is served by all major airlines and cheap flights from Ryanair, Easyjet and Norwegian Airlines from the UK.

For more information please visit www.palazzomontalbano.com

Press enquiries should call Francesca Sanniti on 44 779 6658 658 or email  francesca@palazzomontalbano.com