Hotel Italia

From the street, the Hotel Italia looks like your run-of-the-mill building: a boxy structure with pale and aged canary colored paint, a row of wooden shuttered windows across each story, and a few colorful flowers. However, evidence of its 2010 renovation are present from the moment you walk through the double glass front doors. With unfinished natural wood floors and minimalistic modern hanging lights, the reception area has a contemporary vibe. Wood floored hallways exhibit the same style, while other areas don’t have the same up-to-date feeling. Throughout the hotel, an odd mixture of photographs from classic Hollywood and drawings of medieval scenes hang from the walls. Hints of contemporary vintage decor appears in public spaces like the breakfast lounge and bar where natural wood floors, comfy sophisticated sofas, and chic dining sets prevail.

Set along a congested street that leads to the historic center of Siena, Hotel Italia is within walking distance to most of the medieval city's attractions. Anyone coming to Siena for the famous Il Palio will find the event's location, Piazzo Il Campo, to be 20-25 minutes away on foot. Siena itself is less than an hour’s drive to other nearby medieval villages such as San Gimignano and Volterra. It’s also about an hour to Florence, which has the nearest international airport, and almost two hours to Pisa. Hotel Garden, the sister property that shares some of its facilities with Hotel Italia, is about a 10-15 minute walk away.

Rooms at the Hotel Italia are divided into the categories of Standard, Executive, and Superior units, with suites available as well. Most of the rooms are located in the main building, while 14 are in annexes just steps away. Executive units have a sleek, contemporary style and are equipped to please tech-loving guests with amenities like large flat-screen TVs with satellite channels and iPod docking stations. Superior Rooms are designed to have a timeless style and warm vibe. They feature patterned bedspreads and curtains as well as bright bathrooms with parquet or terra-cotta floors. For travelers on a budget, Standard rooms offer basic furniture and lively textiles, and guests can still expect smaller flat-screen TVs, Wi-Fi, cruelty-free toiletries, and room service. The most varied rooms are the suites. In either classic or contemporary decor, these spaces are the largest, with features that may include a small balcony or exposed brick domed ceilings.

During its 2010 renovation, it's clear Hotel Italia spent some thought on their snazzy bar and breakfast lounge area. Although fairly small for the number of rooms within the venue, the beautiful and bright breakfast area is home to a substantial, free morning buffet with items ranging from sweet pastries and savory cheeses to meats, eggs, fresh fruit, and coffee/tea. Items for people on gluten-free or vegan diets are available as well.

While there’s no restaurant on-site, guests can choose a half-board option at the Hotel Italia's nearby four-star sister property, Hotel Garden, less than a 15-minute walk away. From May to September, the Garden also shares its pool with Hotel Italia. There are only 10 spaces available on-site for parking at Italia, and for a fee. Free parking is available on public streets nearby, but they may be hard to come by. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the property and guests can also rent PlayStation consoles and mini-laptops for personal use. Don't be shy about asking for local recommendations, as reception will be more than happy to help out.