Hotel Donatello

Hotel Donatello is a three-star hotel at Via dell'Indipendenza 65 in Bologna's Centro Storico, set on the principal avenue between Bologna Centrale railway station and Piazza Maggiore. The address is convenient for rail travellers, with the station a short walk north and the city's historic core, including the Basilica di San Petronio, the Neptune Fountain and the Two Towers, within about fifteen minutes on foot. The street is typical of central Bologna, with arcaded pavements, shops and cafés, and it is busy by day and lively into the evening. The hotel is a modest, practical property with 38 rooms, among them four junior suites, which gives it a small, personal scale compared with the larger chain hotels in the city. Rooms are offered as double, twin and junior suite types and include air conditioning, in-room internet and a minibar, with a lift serving the floors. A bar provides drinks, and breakfast follows the Italian pattern of coffee, pastries, cold cuts and cheese. Parking is listed among the amenities, a useful feature given the restricted traffic zone covering much of the historic centre, and pets are accepted. Rates generally fall between about €80 and €170 per night, making it a good-value choice for visitors who want a central base without paying four-star prices. The service character is that of a straightforward city hotel suited to independent tourists, couples and small business groups. Guests can use the location to explore the Quadrilatero food district, the Archiginnasio and the university quarter on foot, and to reach day-trip destinations such as Modena, Parma, Ferrara and Ravenna by regional train from the nearby station, throughout Emilia-Romagna.