Piazza Vecchia is a beautiful ancient space and in January was stunning to see with snow capped…read moremountains visible through the corner of the square, also I'm sure far quieter than later in the year. There is a fascinating Solar calender beneath the Palazzo Della Ragione, at noon when the sun is shining, a hole in a metal disk points to an engraved calender in marble on the floor showing what day it is. One warning if eating or drinking at any of the restaurants and bars outside is beware of the rather aggressive pigeons, which pounce on the least movement away from tables and nearly knocked empty glasses and dishes flying in their greed for any scraps.

The location of this hotel could not be better for sightseeing and walking the high city and that…read moreis the cause of the first issue, getting there. Do not drive, eventhough the hotel will reserve you a garage parking spot not very far away. The Hotel is located in a traffic restricted zone. You have to drive on tiny streets packed with people at 2 mph. and no one wants to get out of your way. We drive all over Italy and it was tense for us. Taxis generally will not go into the high city on weekends or during the high vacation season due to this problem and if they do, it is very expensive. The other option is to take the cable car from the lower city and then push your bags to the hotel. Once you get to the hotel, there is not a porter or bellman to help you get your bags up a very steep 17 steps to the front desk or to your room. This is a "4" star hotel so this was quite disappointing (we are not as young as we used to be). BTW, the only way you know you are at the hotel is a small sign hanging over the door. It is very hard to see so look for the Pizzeria Da Franco and the hotel is right across the street. The room had a new and modern bathroom which was very nice but the rest of the room was dated and needed new chairs and linens. The breakfast was a real weak point. The coffee was good but everything else offered was subpar, pre-packaged and more like vending machine food. The staff are very nice and do try and help you with any questions or directions. They are happy that you are staying at their hotel. All in all I wrote this review so people will understand the complexity of getting to and staying at this hotel and not be surprised when you get there. The last item to address is the 4 star rating, in my opinion the hotel is a 3 star hotel mainly due to the lack of amenities such as a porter.

In the centre of the Città Bassa (or, lower town), this is a square of trees, arcades, cafes and…read morebars. There is also a strange statue of a man hanging upside down by his feet which commemorates the Italian Resistance movement. Close to a wealth of beautiful Renaissance and baroque churches, museums and shops. A good starting point to explore the whole area.