Hotel Corona d’Oro 1890

Parts of the Corona d’Oro 1890 date back to the 13th century, and bits of the old building are still visible. The property is centered around a courtyard atrium lounge, with a grand glass roof, intricate Regency-style stucco columns and molding in shades of white and gold, and ivory couches around lovely ceramic vases. Leading off from the lounge are intimate and atmospheric medieval cloisters, with wooden ceilings dyed a rich tobacco brown from age. The hotel’s breakfast room is housed in a medieval chamber with a vaulted ceiling and walls painted a deep ochre. The hotel does attract some business guests, but its clientele are mainly vacationers looking to stay in the heart of Bologna. A bit surprisingly for the central location, noise is not an issue. 

The Corona d’Oro 1890 has an ideal location in the heart of Bologna’s medieval center, amid a maze of winding cobbled streets and shaded squares. It is a two-minute walk to the Two Towers, which have stood looking over the city since the 1100s, while the Metropolitan Cathedral of San Pietro is a four-minute walk in the other direction. The Piazza Maggiore is five minutes away on foot, as is the vast Basilica di San Petrpnio. The Via dell’Indipendenza, the city’s main drag and shopping street is a seven-minute walk away. Bologna Centrale is 13 minutes away by car, or a 20-minute walk. Expect transfers to Bologna Gugliemo Marconi Airport to take 20 minutes by car or 40 by public transport.

The hotel has 40 rooms, which have varying designs but are all traditionally decorated with patterned linens in shades of orange or blue, classic wood furniture, and parquet wood floors. Framed artwork and brass lighting fixtures add some embellishment. Some of them can feel a bit cramped, but that's par for the ocurse in Italy. Single Rooms have a bed, writing desk and chair, and not much else, while Classic Rooms fit a double bed and a small table. Larger Deluxe Rooms have a king-sized bed and two armchairs, as well as a balcony. Charming Suites have medieval ceilings, painted with ornate frescos that date back to the 15th and 16th centuries. Bathrooms across the board are done in elegant marble, and either have shower cubicles or shower/tub combos, hairdryers, and toiletries. Also standard are flat-screen TVs, kettles, air-conditioning, safes, and minibars, as well as free Wi-Fi.

For a hotel of its standard, the Corona d’Oro 1890 is light on amenities -- it does not have a spa, pool, gym, or even a full service restaurant to serve lunch and dinner. Guests do appreciate what is on offer, though. Guests rave about the free continental buffet breakfast, featuring tables piled high with fresh fruit, local charcuterie and cheeses, and freshly baked pastries, breads, and cakes, as well as hot options, coffee, fresh juice, and prosecco. Additionally, the property organizes an aperitivo every evening with drinks (fee) and nibbles in the grand atrium lounge. The hotel has three meeting rooms, the largest of which can hold 90 people, and there is free Wi-Fi throughout.