BB22

Rooms

The bedrooms are spread across 2 buildings: 7 in the original palazzo and another 4 in Moncada Palace, an early 20th-century townhouse a couple of minutes’ walk away. In all, neutral colours provide a stylish backdrop for a playful combination of contemporary design and salvaged antiques. Starck chairs sit next to gilt-framed mirrors, tailor’s dummies by striped wallpaper, and candelabras beneath glass bauble lights by Ingo Maurer. Beds (mostly kingsize or twin) are wide and firm, flanked by lacquered shelves or chrome Eileen Gray tables, and ensuites are small but well-equipped.

Sizes range from the smallest Standard Room to the larger Deluxes, though none are by any means tiny. We stayed in a mid-range Superior Room, Gold: a vast space dressed in metallics, with brass bathroom fittings and lustrous fabrics. We also liked Mandarino and the shimmering, silver-themed Bergamotto, Deluxe Rooms with a terrace and a flower-filled balcony respectively.

If you want more space then splash out for the Suite, L'Orangerie, which has a doubled bed, a single sofabed, a kitchenette and a dining area. What's more, it’s one of the few rooms with a tub: a huge egg-shaped affair by Matteo Thun, placed decadently in the centre of its open-plan bathroom. You can also book 2 or all 4 of the Moncada Palace rooms (all Deluxes) as an apartment for 4-8.

Features include:

• Hairdryer
• Minibar
• Safe box
• WiFi

Eating

Both buildings have breakfast rooms where a light continental spread is served: fruit salad, croissants, bread, jam, yoghurt, cereal. In season, creamy cannoli (sweet pastries) supplement the usual fare, and in fine weather you can sit under the sky on the terraces. You can also help yourself to tea and coffee at any time, and come evening guests often congregate for wine and a few nibbles.

For other meals, there are plenty of restaurants and cafés nearby. In your room you’ll find a list of recommendations, all personally vetted by Patrizia. We headed to Via Cassari and enjoyed delicious beef carpaccio and ceviche-style seafood at Gagini, a romantic restaurant with sparkling candelabras and exposed stone walls. Also worth trying are the eateries on the top floor of the Rinascente department store, just around the corner from either building on Piazza San Domenico. We spent a happy couple of hours working our way through the cocktail list on the outdoor terrace, before moving inside to trendy Obikà, which specialises in mozzarella-based dishes.

If you book the Moncada Palace rooms as an apartment, you’ll get full use of the kitchen for self-catering. It’s kitted out with everything you need - oven, hob, fridge, dishwasher, pots and pans, crockery and cutlery - and the famous Vucciria market is a great place to stock up on groceries. If you don’t fancy cooking, a chef can be arranged for an extra charge.

Features include:

• Bar
• Breakfast
• Restaurants nearby

Activities

• Stroll around Palermo - a fascinating city of crumbling palazzi, glittering yachts, Baroque churches, tourists in horse-drawn carriages, and flagged alleys worn smooth by the centuries. It was once a flagship of Arab culture, then the seat of Norman kings; today it’s a melting pot where you can dine on everything from pasta to couscous, and admire stunning architecture in varying states of repair
  
• Visit the Norman Palace, now the seat of the Sicilian Regional Assembly. Wander through its arcaded courtyard and stately rooms, and visit the Palatine Chapel, whose Arabian carved ceiling and bejewelled arches will take your breath away
  
• Stop off at the cathedral. Another Norman-Arab-Neoclassical hybrid, this imposing sand-coloured edifice displays all the architectural styles of the city's history
  
• Browse Sicilian art at the Palazzo Abatellis art gallery, or view the classical marbles at the archaeological museum
  
• Go shopping - Via della Libertà and neighbouring Via Enrico Parisi are lined with upscale boutiques such as Frette (linens), Furla (leather goods), Visiona (fashion) and Lethu (homeware)
  
• The Vucciria, Ballarò and del Capo street markets are a must, as much for the people-watching and atmosphere as for the chance to buy exotic fruit and veg
  
• Hop between the chic wine bars in the historic Kalsa district, then take in live rock, jazz or blues at Candelai (Piazza della Rivoluzione, on Via Candelai)

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Historical sites
• Museums / galleries
• Nightlife
• Private guided tours
• Shopping / markets
• Theatre

Kids

Children of all ages are welcome, though most guests are couples. Chaotic Palermo can be a tricky place to navigate with little ones, although the seafront and parks provide respite from the heat and traffic.

Best for:

Children (4-12 years), Teens (over 12)

Family friendly accommodation:

Baby cots can be added to most rooms, and the Suite has a single sofabed. The twin Standard Room in the original palazzo building, Cedro, is ideal for older children as it connects with the neighbouring double room. Larger families can book 2 or all 4 of the Moncada Palace rooms as an apartment for up to 8, complete with a living area and kitchen.

Extra Beds Available

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

BB22 is spread across 2 townhouses in the heart of old Palermo; they’re a few minutes’ walk from each other on either side of Piazza San Domenico and the city’s main thoroughfare, Via Roma. Both are a short walk from the Vucciria market and the harbour.

By Air:
Palermo Falcone-Borsellino (34km away) is the nearest airport and has regular flights from around Europe. If you're touring the whole of Sicily, you might fly into Catania Fontanarossa (210km away) or Comiso (232km away). Click on the links below for a list of airlines serving these airports.

You can take a taxi from Palermo airport or, if you're feeling energetic, hop on public transport. The airport bus runs every half an hour or so and takes 40 minutes; there's also a train to the central station. BB22 can arrange transfers from the airport for an additional cost.

By Car:
If arriving by car, try to get a city map (and a good navigator!) in advance. Finding your way around the centre is tricky, though there is some parking at BB22. If you want to hire a car, see our car rental recommendations.

Detailed directions will be sent to you once your booking is confirmed.

More on getting to Sicily and getting around