Syracuse, ItalyOrtigia
Ortea Palace Hotel, Sicily, Autograph Collection
Grand postal palazzo
Ortigia Syracuse, Italy
Opened
2018
Price
$$$
Rated for
Design Heritage WellnessOutside the door
The house
MarriottGrand postal palazzo
The 1920s post office operates as a stately waterfront hotel, centered around a luminous atrium with evening piano music.
What it’s good at
Notable
A 1920s neoclassical post office conversion overlooking the waters of Porto Piccolo.
What they say
Michelin Selected
Michelin
Once Syracuse’s grand post office, facing the Ionian Sea on the edge of Ortigia, Ortea Palace has been converted into a stately waterfront hotel.
Right in the middle
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Ortigia's food markets and baroque piazzas sit a short stroll away, right at the bridge connecting to mainland Syracuse.
The rooms
Many rooms look out over the water from private balconies, and bathrooms have deep marble tubs.
The indoor pool
Bring a swimsuit.
The heated basement pool is paved with floral mosaic tiles and enclosed by rustic stone walls.
The spa and gym
Arab-inspired rituals and a Turkish bath fill the treatment suites, and the gym sits against exposed stone walls.
Restaurant
Incanto
Tables on the rooftop terrace look out across Porto Piccolo, serving Sicilian dishes by chef Salvatore Barbara.
Restaurant
Il Cortile
Arched limestone walls rise beneath the glass-roofed atrium, where breakfast buffets display Sicilian ceramic head vases.
At the table
Champagnetta serves cocktails named after Greek mythology across a backlit onyx counter in the lobby atrium.
How it began
King Vittorio Emanuele III laid the foundation stone in 1920, establishing the city's main post office for nearly a century.
Stay here
Ortea Palace Hotel, Sicily, Autograph Collection
Choose your dates with one of these sites to see rooms and rates.
Add dates to see the price for your stay.
Book with
Booking.com ExpediaWe may earn a commission when you book through Booking.com or Expedia. It never decides which hotels we include or how we rate them.
Syracuse
More like this
Lùme
“Restored Ortigia townhouse”
Grand Hotel Des Ètrangers
“Restored Grand Tour heirloom”
Donna Coraly Country Boutique Hotel
“Historic Sicilian hideaway”
Palazzo Artemide
“Vaulted limestone palazzo”
Byssus Suites
“Waterfront mansion suites”
Maniace Boutique Hotel Ortigia|UNA Esperienze
“Artisan seafront palazzo”
UNAHOTELS One Siracusa
“Mod wellness loft”
The app
Like this one? There are so many more.
Swipe any city’s hotels and heart the ones you love. The app gets your taste.
Our shorthand
How we rate hotels.
The medals
Gold
Extremely rare. Sets the global standard.
Silver
Brilliant execution. And we’re picky.
Bronze
They did this well. You’ll notice.
Listed
A defining trait. Makes the hotel what it is.
The eight vibes
Design
Built around a vision. Even the door handles have a designer.
Luxe
Cared for at every turn. The bath is drawn before you ask.
Local
It could only be here. You wake up knowing where you are.
Social
Where the city goes out. The bar is full and the night is young.
Heritage
A building with a story. Once a palace, a monastery, a station.
Wellness
You leave feeling new. Rest, sweat, soak and sleep like a stone.
Classic
The city grew up with it. Same rituals, same regulars, same bar.
Resort
A world of its own. Something to do from breakfast to nightcap.
The scene
Lively
Where things happen: restaurants, shops, people.
Central
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Quiet
Away from the crowds. Getting around takes intention.
Secluded
A place apart: the property is the destination.