Albergo Garisenda

Albergo Garisenda is a two-star budget hotel at Galleria del Leone 1, an arcade off Via Rizzoli in Bologna's Centro Storico, Emilia-Romagna, Italy. The name recalls the Garisenda, the shorter of the Two Towers, which stands only a minute or two away at Piazza di Porta Ravegnana. Piazza Maggiore and the Basilica di San Petronio are about five minutes on foot along Via Rizzoli, and Bologna Centrale railway station is roughly 20 minutes away on foot, with buses and taxis available on the main streets nearby.

The location is the main attraction. Via Rizzoli is one of the central shopping streets, and the hotel is in a covered gallery within the historic core, among medieval towers, porticoes and the Quadrilatero market lanes. The property is a simple, economical choice in a very central position, suited to travellers who will spend little time in their room and want a low nightly rate without leaving the old town.

Rooms are offered as double and twin rooms, and the facilities listed are modest: a lift and a bar. Air conditioning, in-room safes and minibars are not listed, so guests who need them should check with the hotel before booking. Breakfast arrangements, parking and wellness facilities are not specified; there is no spa or pool, and drivers should note that the area lies inside the limited-traffic zone. Most guests arrive on foot from the station or by taxi.

Rates generally run from about €60 to €120 per night, among the lower prices available so close to the Two Towers, though they rise sharply during trade fairs. Service is straightforward and aimed at independent budget travellers, backpackers' older cousins, and couples on short city breaks who prefer to spend on food at nearby trattorias serving tortellini, tagliatelle al ragù and fried gnocco with cured meats rather than on accommodation.