Residenza Grand Hotel Riccione

An enchanting old-fashioned hotel with lots of atmosphere, though it feels a little run-down.

The high school art students who guided us during the FAI spring days were excellent, thorough, and really helpful. The place is beautifully preserved, and the current owner clearly does everything he can to maintain it and keep it in use. I hope it can be restored bit by bit, maybe even become a museum. Beautiful!

The owners were kind and helpful, and for the price it was a good stay. We had a four-bed apartment with a living room, kitchen, sofa bed, double bedroom, and two small balconies. It was clean, and sheets and towels were supplied. My sofa bed mattress sagged a bit and wasn't comfortable. The location is great, a short walk from Viale Ceccarini and the sea. Breakfast isn't included and costs €10, though there are plenty of nearby bars. Parking is another €10 per day. I'd recommend it.

It nearly takes your breath away to stand among the art and grandeur of this historic neoclassical place, especially with its enviable location. You can feel tiny in front of it all. A lot of work has gone into reopening it and letting guests stay in the suites where actors, politicians, business people, and royalty spent their summers. It deserves six stars, though more care with the details would have helped. I'm sure I'll give it the top rating next time.