Hotel Vecchio Borgo ★★★★

For me, Sicily is one of Europe's most exquisite islands. Not only does it enchant visitors with its stunning Mediterranean coastlines, but its cities and towns are full of reminders of the great ancient civilizations that fought over this charming isle. Palermo brings this ancient history to life. Founded by the Phoenicians in 743 BC, it has changed hands umpteen times, its character defined by being so diverse and one of Europe's great melting pots. Essentially, Palermo is one of Europe's best open-air museums. The city's modern reputation may not be as prestigious as its past, and it may not be the most manicured of places, but that is all part of its charm. We felt like we were authentically travelling, experiencing the true Sicily, rather than a sanitised, tourist-gloss version of a city. I even got the chance to try out the Italian I’d learnt at school, as many restaurants only provided the menu in Italian - which gave my husband a good chuckle, not to mention amusing a whole string of waiters.

Palermo puts on no airs and graces, it buzzes along in a spirited clamour and effortlessly enchants. Hotel Vecchio Borgo **** has a prime position in this lively city and offers visitors a beautiful refuge.

The hotel takes its name from its environs, the Borgo Vecchio, or “Old Village” district. This port town, dating from the sixteenth century, was initially home to local fishermen, and then became a prime spot for the incoming merchants and craftsmen. Now home to one of the most historic markets in Europe, it was a joy to find out that our hotel was just next to it, meaning delicious food was only ever a few steps away - very important in my book. My husband however was most excited to discover that we were just a ten minute walk from Teatro Massimo, Europe's third biggest theatre, which is home to great feats of artistic genius, its most famous beingone of the Godfathers more gruesome scenes. I liked the fact we were located right between the historic heart and the city's best shopping streets, so that we could satisfy both of our urban interests.

Our welcome to the hotel was second-to-none! Friendly staff presented us with an upgrade and we were more than happy to find a beautifully chilled, local bottle of white wine waiting for us in our plusher-than-anticipated room. It is these little perks which make travelling with VeryChic such a pleasure. The room was gorgeous, airy and light, with parquet flooring, walls in earthy tones and beautiful upholstery and linens. The same bold, yet graceful and feminine pattern adorned the bed and the sofa, with folds stretching up from the headboard to the ceiling. The wooden cupboard doors and mirror had a studded and weathered design and there was a lovely wooden desk. We had a private balcony so we could absorb all the action on the street below from the comfort of our own room. In addition to this wonderful authentic décor, the room was, of course, equipped with all the facilities we've come to expect – good Wi-Fi, a flat-screen TV, a mini-bar and a safe.

Hotel Vecchio Borgo provides a great buffet breakfast, (complimentary for VeryChic guests) full of delicious pastries, local cheeses, fresh juices and, as is right for Italy, fabulous coffee. With just a couple of days to explore such an interesting city, famed for its fabulous cuisine and street food, we loved being able to eat out in local restaurants every evening. Who wants to be stuck in their hotel when there’s so many amazing places to eat on your doorstep?

After spending a couple of days exploring the sights of Palermo, we continued our trip through Sicily. We both felt that we had got to know Sicily much better thanks to our stop in the island's capital. Hotel Vecchio Borgo is a great base from which to explore the enigmatic, multi-faceted city of Palermo.