On New Year’s Day, I was laying out on our rooftop terrace, taking in the sun, shirt off and pasta-stuffed belly proudly bared to the world. On January 1st. At some point, I realized that this was rather exceptional, and Palermo immediately picked up additional points in my mental “Favorite City” competition.

After a couple great months in the Vucciria’s Casa Zatlo, we’ve switched to a different apartment near Il Capo. The Casa del Bastione. It’s a nice change for us; we get to experience a new, noticeably quieter section of the city and we’re close by the incredible market of Il Capo. Best of all? It’s got a terrace. And although the last few weeks have been marked by rain, we’ve taken advantage of every hour of sunlight that has presented itself.

The apartment, which you can book via VisitPalermo.it, is wonderful. Spacious, fully-outfitted and tastefully decorated with cool artwork and furniture. The last time we had such a large apartment was in Savannah, nearly a year ago, and I forgot how nice it is to be able to spread out. I’ve spent the last few days rolling around on the floor, just because I can.

The location is great, too. Just minutes from Teatro Massimo and the market of Il Capo, and with a lively shopping street nearby, it didn’t take long to adjust to the new neighborhood. With two large bedrooms, the place would easily sleep two couples. The kitchen is fantastic, and the terrace as well. If you’re looking for a great short-term let in Palermo, definitely take a look at the Casa del Bastione.

Location on our Palermo Map
Description and more Photos at VisitPalermo.it

Before we moved to Palermo, we had the great fortune of making contact with the guys behind Visit Palermo. They helped us find an apartment, gave us a ton of advice, and have assisted our stay in the city in too many ways to count. And not only are they incredibly helpful; they’re about the coolest people you could hope for.

Maurizio, Andrea and Pietro are the team behind Visit Palermo. The project began a few years ago, after the group of friends recognized a dearth of useful tourism infrastructure in the city. They launched their website to help newcomers and guests to the city, and do so in a variety of ways. If you’re looking for an apartment for a short-term stay, they have a variety of flats for every need. They organize tours, and even offer a car rental service. And their list of what’s on in Palermo, from exhibitions to concerts, is comprehensive and up-to-date.

Since we’ve been here so long, we’ve had the opportunity to get to know the team really well. Maurizio is a life-long Palermitano, and his knowledge and familiarity of the city knows no bounds. He was a DJ for years — and perhaps the best help he’s provided us has been excellent tips on Palermo’s coolest bars. Andrea is his wife; she’s originally from Argentina, and moved permanently here after falling in love with the city. In addition to being incredibly helpful, they’re fun, enthusiastic people.

If you’re planning to spend any time in Palermo, whether for business or pleasure, definitely get in touch with Visit Palermo. They’ve really made our stay more comfortable and easier than it had any right to be. In fact, Jürgen just recently said that the best way to experience the city was “(1) Contact Visit Palermo and (2) relax”. That’s about right.

Visit Palermo – Website
On Facebook

The hardest part of moving to a new city every three months is finding a suitable apartment. But we really lucked out when planning our stay in Sicily, and discovered Casa Zatlò over the excellent website VisitPalermo.it, with almost no effort. We couldn’t be happier with our new temporary home, and can totally recommend it to anyone who wants to stay in something a little homier than a hotel.

Zaïra and Angela run this short-term rental in the boisterous neighborhood of the Vucciria. They’re wonderful hosts; attentive and helpful, and made us feel comfortable in Palermo right away. The apartment, close by Piazza Garraffello, is both perfectly situated and perfectly outfitted. A huge TV with full cable (including channels in HD), a Playstation and Wii, fully-stocked bookshelves, chic furniture, and plenty of space.

The neighborhood is a blast; from the apartment’s balcony, we can see Piazza Garraffello, which is a central meeting spot on weekend nights. There’s a bakery below us, which is like torture — the smell of fresh bread wafts up and gets our stomachs churning every morning. The house is just a few minutes from La Cala in one direction and the Quattro Canti in another, within easy walking distance of the city’s main sights.

If you’re going to be in Palermo, make sure and check the availability of Casa Zatlò — unsurprisingly, it’s pretty popular, so it’s best to make reservations with plenty of advance notice.

Casa Zatlò – Website
Via Garraffello 6
Location on our Palermo Map
Tel: 338-9515483

Previous apartments during our travels in Savannah (Authentic Savannah House), and Buenos Aires (The Loft and Depto).