Maison S. Elena, a historic apartment in the heart of the Cassaro
- 🏛️ Restored historic palace
- 👥 Up to 4 guests
- 🛏️ 1 bedroom + 2 reception rooms
- 🛗 Lift
- 📶 Wi-Fi
- 🔑 Check-in until 2:00 a.m.
- 🚗 Street parking
- 📍 Cassaro · Cortile S. Sofia · Vucciria
★ 5.0 · 8 reviews · 100% five-star
🏆 “Guest Favourite” — Airbnb badge for the most-loved homes
In the palace overlooking Cortile S. Sofia, on the oldest axis of Palermo. A home cared for in every detail by an exceptional host — journalist, philosopher of language, 13 years of hospitality. The result: 5.0 out of 5, 100% five-star, no exceptions.
Not just any apartment in the historic centre
Maison S. Elena is the kind of place you tell your friends about when you get home. Not for the amenities — they’re all there — but for what it represents: an apartment inside a fully restored historic palace, overlooking Cortile S. Sofia, on the most noble stretch of the Cassaro — the Corso Vittorio Emanuele that has crossed Palermo from Porta Nuova to the sea for two thousand years.
The apartment occupies a single level and is laid out as one large bedroom with a double bed and a sofa bed, plus two adjoining reception rooms ideal for relaxing, talking, reading or working at an unhurried pace. The care taken over the spaces reflects the host’s sensibility: Elena Beninati is a journalist with a PhD in the Philosophy of Language, and has hosted on Airbnb for thirteen years, with 177 reviews in total. Maison S. Elena is, as she puts it herself, “an apartment I love deeply”.
The result of all this is an Airbnb score of 5.0 out of 5 — with 100% five-star reviews — and the “Guest Favourite” badge, which Airbnb awards only to the homes ranked among the most loved, based on ratings, reviews and reliability.
Scheda Tecnica
Type: Entire apartment in a restored historic building
Level: Single floor (with elevator)
Maximum occupancy: 4 people
Bedroom: 1 (double bed + sofa bed)
Bed linens and towels provided
Living rooms: 2 adjoining
Full kitchen
Bathroom: 1
- WiFi: 145Mbps
- Check-in: 12:00 – 02:00
- Check-out: By 12:00
- Type: Entire accommodation
- Public parking;private to be paid by the guest
- Air conditioning
- Detectors: Carbon monoxide ✓ · Smoke ✓
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How the apartment is laid out
Maison S. Elena is set over a single level with three main rooms, designed to offer the right balance between private and shared space.
🛏️ Bedroom. A large room with a double bed and an additional sofa bed. It comfortably sleeps two, or up to four with the sofa bed. A refined, private space, set apart from the reception rooms.
🛋️ First reception room. One of the two adjoining living spaces. Spacious and tastefully furnished, designed for relaxing and conversation. The quality of the furnishings reflects the palace’s history and the host’s eye for detail.
🛋️ Second reception room. The second room opens in continuity with the first: it can become a reading corner, an informal workspace, or sleeping space for the fourth guest. Two adjoining reception rooms in an apartment of this size are a rare luxury in Palermo’s historic centre.
🍳 Kitchen. A kitchen equipped for preparing meals. Shopping at the Vucciria or the Capo market — both within walking distance — and cooking at home is one of the most authentic experiences Palermo has to offer.
🚿 Bathroom. A full bathroom. Carbon monoxide and smoke detectors are fitted: a safety standard not every apartment in Palermo’s historic centre provides.
Distances on foot
- 🎭 Teatro Politeama – 15 min walk
- 🛍️ Via Ruggero Settimo (shopping) – 15 min walk
- ⚓ The Port and La Cala – 10 min walk
- 🏛️ Palermo Cathedral – 15 min walk
- 🎭 Teatro Massimo – 12 min walk
- 🥫 Capo Market – 10 min walk
- 🌙 Vucciria (nightlife) – 12 min walk
- 🚌 Bus connection to the airport – 600 m
⚠️ A note on noise: Although it sits on the Cassaro, in the lively heart of the old town near the Vucciria, the apartment is in a quiet position within a historic courtyard, away from the busiest spots. At night it’s peaceful and safe.
Availability & prices
- Availability is to be confirmed by direct contact via email or WhatsApp.
- Prices are kept up to date on Airbnb and set according to the length of stay.
- For monthly rentals or medium-to-long stays, contact us directly. Sicilia House guarantees more flexible terms and a registered transitory lease.
★ 5.0 out of 5 · 8 reviews · 100% five-star
🏆 “Guest Favourite” badge — Airbnb
Maison S. Elena is the only SiciliaHouse property with a perfect score: five stars out of five, in every category, from every guest who has stayed.
A perfect 5.0 on Airbnb
Un appartamento bellissimo, curato in ogni dettaglio, nel pieno centro storico di Palermo. L'host è stata disponibile e preziosa: ci ha indicato i posti migliori della città, quelli che non si trovano sulle guide. Torneremo certamente.
ENA beautiful apartment, cared for in every detail, right in the heart of Palermo's historic centre. The host was helpful and invaluable: she pointed us to the best spots in the city, the ones you won't find in the guidebooks. We'll certainly be back.
✓ Verified guest · Airbnb
Maison S. Elena è esattamente quello che si cerca quando si vuole vivere Palermo davvero. Il palazzo storico, il cortile, il Cassaro fuori dalla finestra. Silenzioso, elegante, perfetto.
ENMaison S. Elena is exactly what you're looking for when you want to truly experience Palermo. The historic palace, the courtyard, the Cassaro right outside the window. Quiet, elegant, perfect.
✓ Verified guest · Airbnb
Elena è un'host eccezionale: risponde subito, conosce la città come pochi, ti fa sentire a casa in cinque minuti. L'appartamento è spazioso, luminoso e curatissimo. Cinque stelle meritate su tutto.
ENElena is an exceptional host: she replies straight away, knows the city like few others, and makes you feel at home within five minutes. The apartment is spacious, bright and beautifully kept. Five well-deserved stars across the board.
✓ Verified guest · Airbnb
I due saloni sono un valore aggiunto inaspettato: si rientra dalla giornata e si ha spazio per staccare davvero. La posizione sul Cassaro è imbattibile. Uno dei migliori soggiorni che abbia fatto a Palermo.
ENThe two reception rooms are an unexpected bonus: you come back from your day and have the space to really switch off. The location on the Cassaro is unbeatable. One of the best stays I've had in Palermo.
✓ Verified guest · Airbnb
Rating breakdown · Airbnb
All reviews come from verified guests who have stayed at the property. Original Italian text is shown with an English translation. Airbnb ratings current as of the latest SiciliaHouse verification. For real-time Google reviews, see Google Maps.
On the Cassaro, in the palace overlooking Cortile S. Sofia
Corso Vittorio Emanuele — the Cassaro — is the backbone of Palermo. It’s the street the Romans called the Decumanus Maximus, the one the Normans processed along towards the Cathedral, and the one that still cuts through the city from Porta Nuova to the sea in a single line. Maison S. Elena is right here: not on a side street, not “a stone’s throw away” — on the Cassaro itself.
Cortile S. Sofia is one of the historic courtyards dotting this stretch of the city — hidden from tourists hurrying past, and visible to those who take the time to look up. It’s the kind of detail you remember.
Within a few minutes on foot are all the places that make Palermo unique: the Vucciria market — the city’s oldest, and a stage for authentic nightlife — the Cathedral, Quattro Canti, the Pretoria Fountain, Teatro Massimo and the Capo Market. Maison S. Elena is the place you set out from and return to, each day, with something new to tell.
- 🏛️ Quattro Canti – on the Cassaro, a few minutes away
- 🏛️ Palermo Cathedral – within walking distance
- 🌙 Vucciria Market (nightlife) – in the immediate vicinity
- 🎭 Teatro Massimo – within walking distance
- ⛲ Pretoria Fountain – nearby
- 🐟 Capo Market – on foot
- 🏛️ Norman Palace (Palazzo dei Normanni) – within walking distance
- 🚗 Street parking available (outside the ZTL or in permitted areas nearby)
A NOTE ON THE HOST
Elena Beninati has been on Airbnb for 13 years, with 177 reviews in total and an average rating of 4.66. For Maison S. Elena the score is higher still: a perfect 5.0. Her response rate is 100%, with replies within an hour. For her, hosting isn’t a side activity — it’s a vocation, and it shows in every aspect of the apartment.
Maison S. Elena is for those who want to live Palermo, not just visit it
✈️ Cultural travellers and discerning tourists. Palermo has a historic centre of rare cultural density. Maison S. Elena is the right base for anyone who wants to take the time to understand it: two reception rooms for reading and resting, a position on the Cassaro that lets you come and go without relying on transport, and a host with a PhD in the philosophy of language who knows the city in depth.
→ Contact us for availability
👫 Couples after a memorable stay. A restored historic apartment on the Cassaro, with check-in until 2:00 a.m. and a perfect score: it’s hard to find a better-suited option for a couple who want authentic Palermo without giving up comfort.
→ Check availability on Airbnb
💼 Professionals and independent travellers. Wi-Fi, kitchen, lift, flexible check-in until 2 a.m. For anyone arriving late off a flight who doesn’t want to depend on hotel hours and needs a quiet, well-located space to work or rest.
→ Contact us for weekly stays
Frequently Asked Questions about Maison S. Elena
Where exactly is Maison S. Elena?
The apartment is on Corso Vittorio Emanuele — the Cassaro — in Cortile S. Sofia, in the heart of old Palermo. The Cassaro is the city’s main historic axis: from the Cathedral and the Norman Palace to Porta Felice on the sea, everything is within walking distance.
What is the Airbnb "Guest Favourite" badge?
It’s a recognition Airbnb awards to homes ranked among the most loved on the platform, based on three factors: ratings, written reviews and host reliability. Maison S. Elena earned it with 8 reviews, all five-star.
Does the apartment have a lift?
Yes. Maison S. Elena has a lift — not something to take for granted in the historic palaces of Palermo’s old town.
How many people can it accommodate?
Up to 4: 2 in the double bed of the main bedroom and up to 2 on the sofa bed.
Who is the host, Elena Beninati?
Elena Beninati is an independent journalist with a PhD in the Philosophy of Language, active on Airbnb for 13 years with 177 reviews in total. Maison S. Elena is her personal apartment: she manages it with direct, hands-on care, a 100% response rate and replies within an hour.
Is a transitory lease agreement possible?
For weekly or monthly stays, contact us directly through SiciliaHouse: we’ll assess your needs and, where possible, issue transitory lease agreements duly registered with the Italian Revenue Agency.