Palazzo Fani Mignanelli

We picked it for being so close to Plazza Del Campo for Il Palio, and the location is excellent. It has a vintage Siena feel. Breakfast was simple, and the bed is firm, almost uncomfortable.

The staff are polite and explain how things work. They can also suggest places to eat and shop, and we followed their advice with good results. They’re available from 8am to 8pm; after that, you use the remote on the key fob to get in. The room includes a TV, minibar, and free safe. The key doesn’t switch off the light, so you can leave something charging. The bathroom is well equipped, if a little small, and the breakfast is meager. That didn’t bother us, given the portions at local eateries. It took us about ten minutes to locate the hotel in a residential building on the third floor. We were expecting a sign, but had to find number "15" on the arch, then pass through a small courtyard well where there was an elevator. It’s a very central, comfortable place for 2-3 nights of exploring the city and local museums. And if you arrive during the races...

Getting in with large suitcases was difficult, and the hotel entrance was very dirty. The room floor was old, broken, and dirty too. The rugs were dusty and filthy, and the curtains around the bed smelled of cigarette smoke. Breakfast was very basic, with coffee and hot milk served in cups, and there wasn’t as much as we wanted.

Fani Mignanelli occupies the top floor of a lovely period building in the historic centre, only steps from Piazza del Campo. Its rooms have exposed architraves, wooden furniture, canopies, and curtains, all beautifully furnished. An external elevator takes you up to the residence.