Art Corona d'Oro

“Bologna, being very full of tourists, detained there by an inundation which rendered the road to Florence impassable, I was quartered up at the top of an hotel, in an out-of-the-way room which I never could find: containing a bed, big enough for a boarding school, which I couldn’t fall asleep in.”
— from “Pictures from Italy” 1868 by Charles Dickens (1812-1870)

Room with a view Our room, No. 214, was a pleasure to come home to each evening after exhilarating days of playing tourist. The room’s small size did not effect our enjoyment; that is because it gave out onto a balcony with a screen of flowering jasmine and a view of one of Bologna’s symbolic landmarks, Torre degli Asinelli (see photo #4). We never tired of this precious outdoor space.

The immaculately clean room was decorated in a warm color scheme; the walls were covered in a textured, terra-cotta colored cloth (see photo #3). Like Mr. Dickens our bed was big; but unlike him, sleeping was a snap on the comfortable mattress. We kept the balcony doors open at night, allowing the flowering jasmine to fill our heads with its intoxicating fragrance.

We too stayed in Bologna a few days, five to be exact. We could not have asked for a better place to stop than albergo Corona d’Oro.

Perfectly situated in the centro storico, this hotel, housed in a 15th century palazzo, is part of a collection of five in Bologna’s Art Hotel chain. The staff was friendly, helpful and professional. The lovely, classically appointed lobby (see photo #2) and cocktail lounge rarely hosted any guests during our visit. Yet, each evening a bartender was at his post ready to serve a refreshing drink: a glass of Emilia-Romagna’s native wine, Lambrusco, perhaps?