Description Blue Majolica: Palermo

Two dramatic levels in the heart of Palermo's historic centre, this apartment is anchored by a wall of antique blue-and-white Sicilian majolica tiles – the kind of detail you only find in a space that's been transformed rather than simply decorated. Exposed steel beams, concrete floors, and an industrial staircase with a glass balustrade sit alongside hand-painted antique doors, and a large vertical window draws light deep into the interior. Ballarò Market is a twelve-minute walk, Quattro Canti around ten, and the Arab-Norman cathedral a sixteen-minute stroll – one of the world's great city centres, right outside the door.

Home truths:
* At full occupancy, two guests will sleep on the sofa bed in the mezzanine area – it's semi-open to the space below, so privacy is limited.
* The sleeping quarters sit on a mezzanine level above the living area, reached by an open staircase. If you or anyone in your group has difficulty with stairs, it's worth factoring that in before booking.