Grand Hotel Ortigia, originally built in 1905, with an interior that was ripped apart and radically upgraded in 1995, is the best and most appealing hotel in Siracusa, with a mix of modernity and old-world charm that's very appealing. It's set directly on the waterfront, near Ortygia's main access bridge to the Italian "mainland," in stately four-story building containing lots of inlaid marble and polished Belle Époque hardwoods.

The vaulted cellar contains a bar with comfortable sofas and a collection of remnants -- some museum-quality -- unearthed from this site during long-ago excavations. Guest rooms are contemporary and comfortable, with color schemes of beige and champagne. In some of the suites, duplex setups include interior staircases of polished steel. Units boast state-of-the-art bathrooms with shower-tub combinations. The in-house restaurant, La Terrazza, is separately recommended below.