Travels in Italy--Siracusa (Part 4 of 5)

Our sojourn in Siracusa continues.

While visiting Siracusa, we stayed in an historic hotel, the Grand Hotel Villa Politi (pictured below). Completed in 1862, the hotel occupies the former home of a wealthy Austrian noblewoman and her painter husband from Siracusa.

What makes the hotel historic and blog-worthy are two unique things. 

One unique feature is the hotel's location.  The hotel is built next to an ancient Greek stone quarry.  The quarry is very deep and the hotel is built very close the quarry's edge.  Form our window, we could see down into quarry. 

In the ancient past, the quarry was once used to house captured soldiers .  As you might recall from an earlier post, prisoners in a quarry faced a brief, hopeless future.   

The other unique feature is the hotel's famous guest list.  Perhaps the most famous guest was Sir Winston Churchill, who apparently enjoyed drinking, smoking and sleeping there.  We emulated Mr. Churchill, except for the smoking. 

Here are some photos.

The stone quarry next to the Grand Hotel Villa Politi was first mined in the 500's B.C. 

The quarry was used to house Athenian prisoners during 413 B.C. 

Some random hottie floats down the main staircase in the Grand Hotel Villa Politi

The hotel is home to Bar Winston, which serves a variety of refreshing beverages. 

We wondered if MR. Churchill slept especially after spending a long time in the bar. 

Some random hottie hanging at the pool

Next Up:  Let's have lunch!