Duomo Suites & Spa

Sicily isn’t just famous for its gorgeous coastline, but for culture as well. Duomo Suites & Spa, located in the heart of the island’s second-largest city, is a window into the island’s more cerebral side. This part of town is, simply put, a Baroque wonderland for architecture fans, a charming labyrinth of cobbled passageways that open onto picture-perfect piazzas and palaces. Duomo Suites & Spa is located inside one of these, a four-story structure that dates to the 18th century. But inside, the look isn’t ornate or overly decorative, it’s spare and minimalist, with a cool color palette and geometric design details. Pop art murals and poetic text, all paying homage to Italian cinema, enliven the white walls.

The landscapes and cultural identity of Sicily, of course, have served as both setting and inspiration for a range of classic films. Indeed, many of the hotel’s suites and rooms are named after specific movies, from from The Godfather to Il Postino and Cinema Paradiso. Standard rooms at Duomo Suites & Spa are simple and comfortable, but larger rooms and suites feature balconies, separate lounge space furnished with sofas or director’s chairs, and extravagant design details from intricate tiled floors to round beds made up with circular red velvet duvets.

Upstairs, the hotel’s rooftop terrace is an impossibly lovely spot for late afternoon drinks with views over the cathedral of Santa Ágata, patron saint of Catania. When the sun slips lower in the sky, casting the skyline into stark silhouette, it’s time to head down for dinner. Pasta alla norma, Sicily’s indulgent pasta dish, made with sun-ripened tomatoes, fried aubergine, and fresh basil, was invented in Catania, but the region is also renowned for its fabulous seafood. Beaches, architecture, gourmet cuisine? Welcome to paradiso.