A really good Italian hotel will cosset you with creature comforts, seduce you with style and elegance and make you feel at home with friendly service. Use this website to help you find the perfect place to stay during your visit to Italy. We have tried and tested every hotel featured and can vouch for the locations, standard of facilities and level of service.

Tuesday, December 30, 2014

Beat the winter blues with a bargain break in Italy

At this time of the year, with Christmas now behind us, many people start to look forward to their next holiday.
But because the summer seems a long way away, I would recommend planning a short winter break in Italy to take your mind off the bad weather and having to return to the daily grind.
The next few weeks would be a good time to go with cheap flights and bargain hotel prices being advertised at the moment.
To keep the costs down still further, be prepared to stay in less well-known towns or resorts where meals and taxi fares are usually cheaper.
There are often low cost flights available to airports close to the great cities of RomeVenice and Milan.
The Venetian lagoon in winter
But if you base yourself just outside these cities you will find you spend less, while still getting the chance to enjoy the same great atmosphere, architecture, food and wine.
If you can find a cheap flight to Rome (Ciampino), consider staying in the ancient, wine-producing city of Frascati, just down the road from the airport.
The city has the feel of Rome, but it is on a smaller scale and life is at a less frantic pace. There are statues, fountains and wonderful architecture, but it is easy to walk around Frascati and there is little crime there, according to a taxi driver I spoke to.
It is said that Frascati’s delicious white wine ‘non viaggia bene’ (does not travel well), which is all the more reason to drink it there, in quaint wine bars serving it cheaply by the glass.
Villas built by wealthy Romans on the hills behind Frascati now lie in ruins, but there are elegant 16th and 17th century villas, such as the imposing Villa Aldobrandini, to look round.
Take the train to Rome (30 mins) and see the sights, but return in the evening to sit on a terrace sipping wine, looking down over the eternal city.
I recommend the Hotel Colonna as a good base in Frascati.
If you can book a low cost flight to Venice (Marco Polo), why not go by train or taxi to nearby Padova, a sophisticated city with good shops, restaurants and hotels.
Padova’s Scrovegni Chapel contains one of the world’s greatest works of art, a complete cycle of frescoes painted by Giotto between 1303 and 1305, the first time an artist created life-like figures with realistic expressions.
Padova is home to one of the most important places of Christian worship, the Basilica di Sant’Antonio, where pilgrims pray to the saint.
Foodies will be fascinated by the variety of shops and stalls in the Piazza delle Erbe and Piazza delle Frutta.
You could take the train to Venice (35 mins) and arrive in style at Santa Lucia railway station on the Grand Canal, then return to Padova at night to enjoy an excellent meal, at a lower price than you would pay around St Mark’s Square.
Good places to stay in Padova are Hotel Belludi 37 and Hotel Europa.
For more detailed information about Padova visit www.bestofpadova.com.
There are currently some bargain flights to be found for Bergamo Caravaggio airport, also known as Milan Bergamo.  And you will be missing a trick if you don’t stay and explore Bergamo, a historic city with two distinct centres.
Bergamo's beautiful Piazza Vecchia
The upper town is a beautiful, walled city with buildings that date back to medieval times, but there are plenty of shops, bars and restaurants to welcome visitors.
At the heart of the city is Piazza Vecchia, remodelled during the Renaissance and praised by architects as the most beautiful square in Italy.
Walk through the archways under Palazzo della Ragione to see the Colleoni Chapel, considered the finest Renaissance building in Italy.
The lower town also has elegant buildings and a good choice of restaurants and hotels. From there you could take the train to Milan (50 mins) to see the sights, but in the evening you will be glad to return to the peace of Bergamo and dine within its 16th century walls.
I'd recommend staying at the Hotel Excelsior San Marco or the Hotel Cappello d’Oro while in Bergamo.
For more detailed information about Bergamo visit www.bestofbergamo.com.

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Monday, July 28, 2014

Hotel Belludi 37 Padova

This charming hotel is right in the historic centre of Padova

An ideal base for a stay in Padova is the area between the Basilica di Sant’Antonio and the city’s main square, Prato delle Valle.
The Hotel Belludi 37 is about halfway between these two sights in a converted palazzo in Via Beato Luca Belludi. It is in a perfect location for people wishing to explore the city on foot, with most of the ‘must see’ attractions within a short walk of the hotel.
Hotel Belludi 37
Despite its traditional façade, the Hotel Belludi 37 is very modern on the inside with a simple contemporary décor and modern furniture in all the guest rooms.
The reception desk just inside the entrance hallway is always manned by friendly, helpful staff and a staircase with ornate wrought iron balustrading leads up to the guest rooms and the breakfast room.
The hotel offers free wireless internet and the use of bicycles for getting around Padova. It is in an area well off for bars and restaurants but is close to tram and bus stops if you want to travel further afield.
Many guests have commented after their stay that the Hotel Belludi 37 feels more like a four star than a two star hotel.
Editor’s note: “Having experienced the friendly service I can well understand why so many of the guests return to Hotel Belludi 37 on their next visit to Padova.”
Why stay at Hotel Belludi 37 in Padova
The Hotel Belludi 37 provides modern, stylish accommodation right in the centre of Padova.
It is a short walk away from Basilica di Sant’Antonio and Prato delle Valle, two of Padova’s main attractions.
There are plenty of bars, restaurants and shops within easy reach of the hotel and it is close to a stop for the tram that goes to the railway station.
Book a room at Hotel Belludi 37, Padova with Hotels.com or compare prices at Expedia UK.

What to see in Padova
Padova is one of the most important centres for religion and art in Italy and is home to the country’s second oldest university.
The enormous Basilica del Santo was built in the 13th century to preserve the mortal remains of Sant’Antonio, a Franciscan monk who became famous for his miracles. The magnificent church attracts pilgrims from all over the world and is rich with works of art by masters such as Titian and Tiepolo.
Padova has become acknowledged as the birthplace of modern art because it is home to the Scrovegni Chapel, the inside of which is covered with frescoes by Giotto, a genius who was the first to paint people with realistic facial expressions showing emotion.
At Bo, Padova’s university founded in 1222, you can still see the original lectern where Galileo held his lessons and the world’s first anatomy theatre where dissections were secretly carried out from 1594.
Visitors are also fascinated by the extensive range of food stalls and shops in the Piazza delle Erbe and the Piazza delle Frutta.
Directions:
Hotel Belludi 37 is located in Via Beato Luca Belludi. The nearest tram stop is a short walk away in Prato delle Valle.
Restaurant recommendation:
Zairo in Prato delle Valle is close to the Hotel Belludi 37. The elegant restaurant is decorated with chandeliers, statues and frescoes, echoing the grandeur of the square.
Ristorante Zairo
When Zairo was renovated in 1988, the original architecture of an earlier church on the site was uncovered and this has been skilfully incorporated into the design of the restaurant along with a 17th century fresco that has been preserved.
The restaurant’s statues and wall decorations recall the Roman activities that would once have taken place within the elliptical space of Prato delle Valle, such as chariot races and theatre entertainment.
Zairo’s menu offers a wide choice of meat and fish dishes, some typical of the Veneto and some specialities from Puglia . There is also an extensive pizza list.
The restaurant, at 51 Prato delle Valle, close to the Basilica of Santa Giustina, is open from 12.00 to 14.30 and from 19.00 to 01.00. It is closed on Mondays.

Local specialities:
Cucina padovana (Padovan cooking) is similar to that of Venice but with a few traditions all of its own.
Look out for risotto ricco alla padovana which is served with duck and chicken and risotto with radicchio, a vegetable grown locally.
Popular pasta dishes include tortelli di zucca dolce (sweet pumpkin stuffed ravioli) and bigoli con ragu d’anatra (little strings of pasta with a duck sauce).
Various cuts of chicken and duck served with a variety of different sauces and vegetable accompaniments feature strongly among secondi piatti in most restaurants.  
Local wines:
Many good wines are produced in the area around Padova.
You will see Pinot Bianco and Soave among the white wines on menus.
If you like red wine you will be spoilt for choice as Merlot, Bardolino and Valpolicella are all produced in the Veneto .
And if you fancy something sparkling make sure you sample some light, refreshing Prosecco. Not far from the city is the so-called strada del Prosecco, the road between Valdobbiadene and Conegliano, which is lined with wineries producing Prosecco DOC (Denominazione di Origine Controllata), the stamp of quality given to the best Italian wines.
Shopping:
There are designer fashion shops in the centre of the city, fascinating food markets in Piazza della Frutta and Piazza delle Erbe and antiques and bric a brac on sale at the weekend markets held in Prato della Valle.
Book a room at the Hotel Belludi 37, Padova with Expedia UK or check prices with Hotels.com.

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Saturday, May 10, 2014

Death in the High City

Brand new detective story with an Italian setting



A new crime novel set in Italy has just been published on Amazon Kindle.
The novel is the first in a series featuring detective duo Kate Butler, a freelance journalist, and Steve Bartorelli, a retired Detective Chief Inspector who is of partly Italian descent.
Believed to be the first British crime novel to put the spotlight on Bergamo, in Lombardia, Death in the High City centres on the investigation into the death of an English woman who was writing a biography of the composer Gaetano Donizetti.
Of interest to anyone who enjoys the cosy crime fiction genre or likes detective novels with an Italian setting, the book is currently available as a Kindle edition, but can also be read on smartphones, tablets and computers using Amazon’s free Kindle app.
The dead woman had been living in an apartment in Bergamo’s Città Alta and much of the action takes place within the walls of the high city. The local police do not believe there is enough evidence to open a murder inquiry and so Kate Butler, who is the victim’s cousin, arrives on the scene to try to get some answers about her cousin’s death.
Kate visits many of the places in Bergamo with Donizetti connections and her enquiries even take her out to the beautiful Lago d’Iseo. But after her own life is threatened and there has been another death in the Città Alta, her lover, Steve Bartorelli, joins her to help her unravel the mystery and trap the killer. The reader is able to go along for the ride and enjoy the wonderful architecture and scenery of Bergamo and the surrounding area while savouring the many descriptions in the novel of the local food and wine.

Death in the High City, by Val Culley was published in May, 2014 and is now available on Amazon.

Sunday, February 9, 2014

Urban Hotel Design Trieste


This stylish modern hotel is right in the centre of Trieste


Within a short walk of Trieste’s impressive main square, Piazza dell’Unità d’Italia, the Urban Hotel Design offers comfort, contemporary design and the latest technology.
The hotel has a predominantly white décor with splashes of colour provided by pieces of furniture and examples of modern art. But the overall effect is comfortable and practical and the hotel has all the facilities guests need for a pleasant stay.
Carpet leads to the 
Urban Hotel Design.
Rooms at the four-star Urban Hotel Design all have satellite television, wi fi and a minibar. The bathrooms are smart, modern and well equipped.
An excellent buffet breakfast is served in the ground floor breakfast room.
The Urban Hotel Design has been converted from a building constructed over first century Roman ruins. A large glass panel in the floor of the breakfast room provides guests with a fascinating glimpse of the original Roman street below and a section of the wall of the Roman harbour.
Although in the historic heart of Trieste, the hotel is able to offer guests a number of options for car parking.
Editor’s note: “It was lovely to be able to leave the hotel and walk straight into the magnificent Piazza dell’Unita d’Italia that opens out on to the sea front. The Urban Hotel Design is in a truly wonderful location.”
For more information, to check prices and to book a room at the Urban Hotel Design go to our hotel booking partners Hotels.com and Expedia UK

Why stay at the Urban Hotel Design in Trieste

The Urban Hotel Design provides modern, stylish, comfortable accommodation right in the centre of Trieste .
The hotel is just a few yards from Piazza dell’Unità d’Italia and the sea front and within walking distance of a first century Roman theatre and the Cathedral and Castle of San Giusto.
Canal Grande a lovely area to visit
 with bars and shops.
There are plenty of bars, restaurants and shops within easy reach of the hotel, which is also within walking distance of the railway station and bus station.

What to see in Trieste

Stroll along the sea front and sample one of Trieste’s excellent fish restaurants, or visit one of the typical coffee houses that date back to the Hapsburg era such as Caffe Tommaseo, the oldest café in Trieste.
Linger at a table outside one of the bars at the side of Canal Grande, an inlet with moorings for small crafts that is reminiscent of the Grand Canal in Venice.
Find out why Irish writer James Joyce enjoyed living in Trieste for so many years by visiting the Museo Joyce e Svevo, or what was believed to have been his favourite bar, Caffe Pirona.

Directions: 

The Urban Hotel Design is located in Androna Chiusa at number 4, close to Piazza dell’Unità d’Italia and Via del Teatro Romano. It is within walking distance of the railway station and bus station in Piazza Libertà from where you can get a bus to Ronchi dei Legionari, the nearest airport.

Restaurant recommendation:

Marinato in Riva Nazario Sauro is a short walk from the Urban Hotel Design through the Piazza dell’Unità d’Italia and along the sea front.
Inside Marinato Pizzeria
The atmosphere is similar to that of a smart pizzeria in Naples but along with the excellent pizza list, fresh local fish and seafood are also on the menu.
The young staff are friendly and efficient and the food is of high quality but at reasonable prices.
Try a jug of the excellent Friulian Tocai with your meal.
Marinato is open lunchtimes and evenings Monday to Friday and evenings only on Saturday and Sunday.

Local specialities: In Trieste you will find restaurants serving traditional Italian, Friulian, Slovenian, Hungarian and Austrian dishes reflecting the colourful history of the city and the legacy left by its former rulers.
Try jota, a bean, potato and sauerkraut soup or kaiserknodel, dumplings with cheese, ham and parsley.

Local wines: Friuli-Venezia Giulia , the region in which Trieste is situated, is well-known for producing high-quality white wines. Look out for Tocai Friulano sometimes just labelled Friulano.

Shopping: Trieste has many top fashion shops in Corso Italia and Via Carducci.
The most famous product to take home with you is prosciutto di San Daniele, a delicious Friulian ham, similar, although some would say superior to, Parma ham.

Book a room at the Urban Hotel Design Trieste with Expedia UK or Hotels.com

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