Description Cementine & Contrasts: Palermo

Original terrazzo floors and restored cementine tiles give this Palermo apartment a sense of place – the kind of historic detail that's hard to resist. The contemporary furnishings and pastel colour scheme balance the heritage beautifully, so it doesn't feel too stuck in the past. Step outside and you're a short walk from the Ballarò Market, the Norman Palace, and the baroque Old City – enough history and street life to fill several days without ever needing a taxi.

Home truths:
* The apartment is about a fifteen-minute walk from the very centre of Palermo, so you'll want to factor that in when planning days out. The walk is manageable and you'll quickly get your bearings.