Grand Visconti Palace

Built on the remains of the Verga Mill, which dates back to the early 20th century, the Grand Visconti Palace has managed to turn the formerly industrial grounds into something refined and elegant. Inside the hotel, the look is definitively classic. There are polished marble floors, heavy curtains, antique pieces with gilded accents, and a rich wooden front desk -- all around, couches and chairs are arranged for guests to relax. The hotel is popular with both leisure and business travelers who gather for breakfast in the hotel's traditional dining room, where buffet items are set out on tables covered in white linens. One of the points of pride for this hotel is its large garden, which has landscaped hedges, stone terraces, and a fountain, and provides a pleasant place to unwind. This isn't one of the most central hotels in Milan, and the atmosphere reflects that, with enough on-site features to keep guests happy for at least an afternoon.

The hotel is across from the rail yards at Milano Porta Romana Station in the southeastern part of the city. The neighborhood has a local vibe, and doesn't hold any of the main landmarks in Milan, though there are several casual restaurants and trattorias nearby. The Lodi T.I.B.B. Metro station is a four-minute walk from the hotel, making it simple to connect to the city center. It will take less than 10 minutes to reach Milan's famous cathedral, the Duomo, which is surrounded by all manner of shops and restaurants. The monastery of Santa Maria delle Grazie, where visitors can view Leonardo da Vinci’s "Last Supper" takes just under 30 minutes to reach by metro, or 15 minutes by car or cab. It's a 20-minute metro ride to Castello Sforzesco and Parco Sempione. Expect a 20-minute drive to Linate Airport, while Milan Malpensa Airport will take up to an hour to reach by car or cab. Malpensa Airport can also be reached by using the metro and trains from Milano Centrale Station in about 90 minutes.

There are two personalities when it comes to the rooms at the Grand Visconti Palace -- some are stylish and modern while others are outfitted in the more typically traditionally and slightly dated style that plagues plenty of historic Italian hotels. In the modern rooms, stylish wallpaper in bold patterns and on-trend dark colors matches bed runners, while elegant upholstered headboards add chic appeal. These rooms have sharp wood laminate or parquet floors and heavy wooden furniture with antique lines tastefully set about their spaces. Then there are the traditional rooms. It's not that these rooms aren't fine enough, but when compared to the style in the more modern rooms, they feel dated and are a bit of a let down. The decor in these rooms includes heavy floor-to-ceiling curtains, wall-to-wall carpeting laid with area rugs, and gold-embellished wallpaper. Some rooms do have garden views.

All rooms have flat-screen TVs, minibars, and electric kettles for coffee or tea -- chocolates on pillows are a nice touch. Free Wi-Fi is available, but guests complain the connection can be extremely slow. Bathrooms are spacious, but feel a bit dated, with green marble tiling and floral borders. All have shower/tub combos with handheld showers and there is a good amount of counter space next to sinks.

With the added space available at this relatively large hotel, the Grand Visconti Palace offers a good amount of features on-site to keep guests busy. There’s a restaurant and bar that serves Italian dishes throughout the day, including a free breakfast buffet that includes cold meats, cheeses, pastries, and eggs. For a fee, guests can use the facilities in the spa including the sauna, steam room, indoor pool, and small whirlpool. Spa treatments are available and guests are required to wear a swim cap at the pool. The hotel has a small fitness center with modern cardio and weight equipment, though the selection is limited. There’s an internet corner, and fourteen meeting rooms are available for private events, the largest accommodating up to 300 guests. Garage parking is available for a fee. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel but can be very unreliable.