Ed.: The Inspired Stays series highlights hotels we love around Italy. Each property is independently reviewed by an Italy Magazine writer, who is generally hosted on a complimentary basis. Our contributors do not accept compensation or gifts in exchange for specific types of coverage. We only showcase properties we would genuinely recommend overall.
Why we love it
Historic grandeur and five-star service just a couple blocks from Piazza Maggiore have made this grand dame a top choice for discerning travelers for more than a century.
What to expect
As soon as you enter off the porticoed Via dell’Indipendenza, where a doorman is ready to greet you and whisk away your bags, you’ll be enveloped in the pomp and circumstance of this member of the Leading Hotels of the World. With marble floors, antiques, chandeliers and sumptuous fabrics, this is a true Old World experience that feels a bit like a portal to a different time. It has welcomed VIPs and royalty, including Princess Diana, Sophia Loren, Frank Sinatra and Ava Gardner.
Background
Originally built in the 1700s as a seminary, the building was combined with the adjacent Palazzo Fava Ghisilardi and transformed into a hotel in 1911. On the lower level, you can see a piece of an ancient Roman road and the restaurant has 16th-century murals attributed to the Caracci brothers.
Location, location, location
The hotel is positioned in the heart of Bologna’s historic center, with Piazza Maggiore, the Two Towers, and other sites like the Archiginnasio within a few minutes’ walk. The main entrance is right on Via dell’Indipendenza, a busy shopping street in a limited traffic zone.
Where you’ll sleep
The 106 rooms and suites feature sumptuous fabrics, gilded furniture and Murano chandeliers. My room had an antique desk, a sitting area with a plush sofa and armchair, a Nespresso machine on a mirrored cabinet containing the minibar, a marble bathroom with products by Culti Milano and a terrace overlooking Via dell’Indipendenza with a partial view of Piazza Maggiore. The only room decorated in a different style is the Art Deco Terrace Suite, which has a spacious terrace with a pergola.
Dining & drinks
Breakfast — served in a dedicated room on the lower level — is buffet style with the option to order hot dishes. I didn’t dine at I Caracci restaurant, which serves elegantly presented dishes in a formal setting, but I did peek inside to see the incredible ceiling frescoes. I also got a peek at the wine cellar, which is available for private wine tastings and dinners, and at the Café Marinetti dedicated to the founder of Futurism, Filippo Tommaso Marinetti.
Service notes
This is definitely a service-oriented hotel where staff are ready to help with anything from storing suitcases to making restaurant reservations and other concierge services.
Spa time
I wasn’t able to see the spa because some other guests were using it, but it has a sauna and steam bath and offers massages and other treatments. There’s also a fitness room with Technogym equipment.
Family perks
Kids under 12 are welcomed with a little gift and can stay in their parents’ room for free with breakfast included. The restaurant has a kids’ menu and the concierge can organize activities like an educational workshop with an archaeologist.
You should know...
Unfortunately, it rained during my stay, but in the warmer months the first floor terraces are lovely places to sit and enjoy an aperitivo or light meal.
Accessibility
- The hotel has an elevator and ADA-friendly rooms and bathrooms.
Features & amenities
- City setting
- Restaurant
- Bar
- Free WiFi
- Parking (paid)
- Spa
- Fitness room
- Pets allowed
- Family friendly
Contacts
Grand Hotel Majestic “già Baglioni”
Via dell'Indipendenza 8, Bologna
Tel. +39 051225445
Website
