Hotel Italia

Breakfast was very basic, with only a few things to choose from each morning, so I’d book here only if breakfast isn’t important to you. The staff were really polite and we liked them right away. The views were great, and sleeping in a 15th-century building made the stay feel unique.

There’s no bar or restaurant at the hotel, but that wasn’t a problem for us since there are plenty within a five-minute walk. The breakfast room has fantastic views. The hotel was comfortable and the staff were friendly.

The fresh breakfast was served promptly at 8 in a bright room with a wonderful view over the rooftops and valley. They even let me spend a few hours painting the view. The hotel’s location worked well for me, with a straight hike up from the parking lot and everything close by. I’d come back, especially if they gave the room a little attention. I booked at the last minute before a two-week class, and the basic room suited my needs, though it felt a bit like a hostel. My single room on the first floor was tiny, almost like a monastic cell, with a window facing a wall and pigeon roosts and miniature furniture. There were just two outlets, one near the floor by the front door and one high over the bed, both inconvenient for using the provided tea pot or charging my phone. The lighting was poor. The shower needs maintenance because it swung between cold and very hot, and its head was clogged with deposits. The safe opened with a key and wasn’t attached to anything. Those last three issues explain my rating. There was no staff around before 8 am or after 8 pm, and after-hours entry and exit were through a side door with a key. Even so, the staff were all lovely, and I ran into an Italian acquaintance we both knew who was also staying at the hotel.

The hotel is close to the main piazza, which made for an excellent location. We got the last room the night we stayed, a family room with more beds than we needed but lots of space. It was very clean and well equipped. Breakfast came with the room, and the view from there down over the hilltop rooftops to the valley floor was amazing. The staff were helpful, pleasant, and wonderful to deal with.