Hotel Parco delle Fontane

Overall, the hotel has an old leisurely resort hotel feel to it. We went in a very quiet off season but when it was full with other guests it felt lively - I'm sure the poolside would be especially wonderful in the summer. Staff were attentive and able to troubleshoot any problems we ran into or requests we had. It feels a bit dated in terms of its decor, but nothing is broken or worn out.

Because the room's electricity is activated by key card the mini bar is not able to get up to and maintain a temperature to chill drinks or food. The light at the doorway of the room also only activates when the door is open or the card is put in and only stays on for about a minute. This makes it hard to organize the wardrobe or get dressed with light. You'll definitely need a car if you're hoping to stay here and explore any part of Syracusa/Ortigia but the parking situation is incredibly tight.

While the location was not directly in Syracuse, it was convenient and was easy to park in the grounds. The grounds were lovely and we were able to sit outside near the pool in the evening and have a snack and some wine. My room was spacious and has a nice view of the pool and the grounds. The lobby decour is a bit dated, but sort of quaint. We had a higher level room with a beautiful bathroom, but no shower.

There were several tour groups which made the place seem a bit institutional. I think it is convenient for them as it is large enough to accommodate and the parking is not an issue.

Location is very good if you want to completely relax and disconnect. The rooms, restaurant and pool areas all facilitate rest. The staff were very, very friendly and recognised you, remembered things about you. Kettle in the room is a must for me, so that box was ticked. Air conditioning worked well and could be adjusted. I like the fact it turns off when you open any of the windows. The food at breakfast was good and varied. Restaurant menu was varied and very tasty. The combination of the house, pool and gardens were the best part; very beautiful and restful. The house is very beautiful and looks magical in the evening when the garden is lit up. Still not that far from Syracuse and Ortigia.

More observations rather than dislikes: staff could not always cope with demand when it was busy during the day around the pool. You need a car or taxi to get into the city centre as it's too far to walk, about 5km. At breakfast I would like to see bananas and brown or wholemeal bread that's from a bakery, not presliced and rather bland, but that's because I'm northern European and bread is very important for us! I would love to learn more about the history of the house itself; can you leave some information out for guests?

Everything was excellent: the rooms; the reception staff (especially Frederico and Simone); Antonio the exceptionally efficient and friendly Maitre'd; the pool where the surrounds and the pool itself were continually being cleaned; the breakfasts; the Aperol Spritz; the shower; the gardens (which despite the hotel being amongst apartment blocks and near a busy road, made you think you were in an oasis of calm). We could find fault with nothing! Thank you so much to all the staff.

Only mentioning that the hotel is a long way from town centre. But contrary to other people complaining in their reviews, we are not! We knew it was out of town, but we had a car and it wasn't a problem. Certainly no deduction of marks for that! And the hotel staff were fantastic when we had problems with a taxi. They sorted it all out for us. Well done and thanks Frederico!

lovely setting, friendly staff

the night we stayed there was a private party with a band. we should have been told about that in advance. quite noisy. it went on well after midnight. the hotel staff were overwhelmed at breakfast, food was not replenished fast enough, tables not cleared and no plates. basically should have had some extra staff around to help, basically caused by the private party quests all staying at the hotel.

The place was wonderful. Both shade (necessary in 35*C) and sun readily available at the pool. the rooms were clean and large. An oasis near a town. One of the chefs really was excellent. Breakfast was good, although for the full experience you needed a sweet tooth. Thanks for the wonderful stay!

As mentioned, one of the chefs was lovely. However. on one of the three nights we ate there, the exact same dishes seemed significantly worse to us. Although the staff was always helpful when asked, you really needed to ask for everything and chase them down. We almost thought they intentionally were watching the skies when bringing others drinks near the pool, we could just not get their attention. At breakfast, they really lacked a manager keeping an eye on guests and food supplies. I do want to emphasise they were sweet and helpful when asked. This particular thing wasn’t overly bothersome. Just a bit of feedback to possibly improve.

We really enjoyed our stay at the Hotel Parco delle Fontane. When you arrive at the main gates you know this is going to be a special place. The driveway takes you around the outer edge of the gardens and up to the hotel. There is limited parking outside the hotel, but plenty available place around the grounds. Very friendly staff speaking good English was a great help to our check in. We had arrived too late for lunch as the dining room was closed, but the maître d’ was very accommodating and made us a toasted sandwiches and salads, to eat on the back terrace overlooking the beautiful swimming pool and garden. Our room was large and comfortable, with a kettle for making coffee or tea and a cookie selection. That night we ate dinner outside on the patio, with the pool lights and fountains providing a very nice setting. The next day we went to Ortigia and were delighted by the detailed information provided by the young man, I wish I knew his name, at the front desk, on where to park, what to see and even to eat at his favorite restaurant for lunch. This recommendation for lunch was brilliant, so if you visit Ortigia, check out Fratelli Burgio on Via De Benedictis, you walk right through the interesting market, and it is the last restaurant on the left. Ortigia is a must to visit while in Siracusa. We really liked the maître d’, the food was excellent and we ate dinner both nights at the hotel. Breakfast was a typical Italian breakfast. We would certainly stay there again.

The pool, garden and the outdoor facilities are stunning, I could have spent days just relaxing there! Everything is very secluded from the outside street so it feels almost like a resort. The breakfast was nice, though you have to ask for some things like coffee, which wasn’t very clear. All the staff were friendly and helpful. Not everyone spoke English but everyone tried their best to understand and help, which is more important. The hotels rooster is a bonus :)

The restaurant menu could use some more options as its very fish/meat oriented, not a lot of veggie options. This is an issue because the hotel is quite out of the way, the neighborhood is not nice to walk around so getting food somewhere else is a hassle. The rooms are nice but could use an upgrade, though price-quality ratio is great.

The hotel sits off of a business road, but surrounded by beautiful, mature gardens. There is very safe parking located inside the large gate to the hotel and right next to the lobby, so if you have a car, this place works great. The breakfast in the morning was wonderful.

The neighborhood has a few restaurants and services, but there are no public sidewalks, so it is a little difficult to walk to things.

The Hotel is really romantic, baroque and very good located. 10 minutes from the historical center, you feel like you are in a oasis which is really good if you are looking for a journey through relaxation surrounded with a beautiful garden.

Sligh detail : decor is a bit dated, with small changes they could arrange it in a baroque way