In the Shadow of the Two Towers

In the Shadow of the Two Towers Overview

You know what’s funny about this place? The name “In the Shadow of the Two Towers” sounds so dramatic, but honestly, it’s just a straightforward description of where you’ll be staying. Bologna’s famous leaning towers – the Asinelli and Garisenda – are literally right there, and yeah, depending on your room, you might actually be in their shadow during certain parts of the day. I mean, how many hotels can say that?

The location on Via Castiglione is pretty much perfect if you actually want to experience Bologna rather than just pass through it. You’re about a five-minute walk from Piazza Maggiore, which sounds touristy but trust me, it’s where the city really comes alive, especially in the evenings when the students from the university spill out of the bars and cafés. The hotel itself has that solid, unpretentious feel that a lot of Italian four-star places nail – clean lines, good bones, nothing too flashy but definitely comfortable. The lobby has this warm, honey-colored stone that I’m pretty sure is local, and there’s usually a decent buzz of conversation mixing Italian and about six other languages.

What I really appreciated was how the staff seemed to know their neighborhood inside and out. The guy at reception – I think his name was Marco – didn’t just give me a tourist map, he actually sketched out a route to avoid the crowds heading to the basilica and pointed me toward this little osteria on Via del Pratello where, he was right, I had some of the best tortellini in brodo of my life. The rooms are what you’d expect from a decent four-star – not huge, but well thought out, with good blackout curtains (which you’ll need if you’re facing the towers, since those spotlights stay on pretty late). The bathrooms are surprisingly spacious, though the shower pressure can be a bit temperamental – honestly, pretty standard for older buildings in Italian city centers.

The 7.9 rating feels about right to me. It’s not going to blow you away with luxury, but it does the important stuff really well. The bed was genuinely comfortable, the air conditioning worked without sounding like a jet engine, and the Wi-Fi was solid throughout the building. I stayed there in late September, which is actually a great time to visit Bologna – still warm enough to wander around in the evening, but not so hot that you’re melting on the cobblestones. The breakfast was typical Italian hotel fare, nothing revolutionary, but the coffee was properly strong and the cornetti were fresh.

If you’re the type who wants to feel like you’re staying in the heart of things without dealing with the chaos of being right on top of the main tourist drag, this place hits that sweet spot. You can walk to basically everything worth seeing, but Via Castiglione has enough residential feel that it quiets down at night. Just don’t expect cutting-edge amenities or Instagram-worthy design – this is more about being in the right place with solid fundamentals than making a statement.

In the Shadow of the Two Towers Accommodations

Reviews of In the Shadow of the Two Towers

• Super! – Marie-claire from Netherlands – 10 January 2025 (10/10)

  Modern appartement in historisch pand in centrum Bologna

• beautiful Loft and great assistance – Lois from Switzerland – 30 August 2024 (10/10)

  – beautiful and spacious apartment with all the necessary amenities
  – the instructions and video on how to find the apartment were VERY HELPFUL
  – Andrea's fast reaction time to my messages and his subsequent assistance
  
  What could be improved: there's a flight of stairs before you get to the elevator 😂😂 (heavy suitcases)

• Good location but no parking nearby. – Oliver from Canada – 6 June 2024 (6/10)

  A 2 level apartment complete with kitchen. Nicely renovated. Clean and modern but not a cozy feeling. Good location, except no parking nearby.
  
  What could be improved: Not accessible by car. Nearest public parking about 1 km away. Luggage must be carried from parking to hotel and back. No attendant available. This is an apartment in a building with other apartments. We were given a keychain with 6 keys, 3 of which were useful.

• An amazing find near the centre of the old city! – Hein from New Zealand – 28 August 2023 (9/10)

  Spacious modern and very centrally situated and quiet. Beautifully furnished. Kitchen well appointed with all gadgets you can imagine. Lots of cupboard space and storage. There is a lift taking you to the second floor, but there is still a few stairs to contend with your bags. Once you get your head around the light switches, the mood lighting is excellent. Bed large and very comfortable.
  
  What could be improved: Pillows are rock hard with no alternatives. Air conditioner in the open plan mezzanine floor is out of order and seems to have been for so for some time – see older reviews. – and nothing has been done about it . It gets so hot you could bake a bread in there! No microwave oven.

• Very good – Scott from Australia – 2 July 2023 (8/10)

  Great quiet location close to the centre of town. A spacious and well appointed loft.
  
  What could be improved: Bathroom could do with a freshen up….Some shower molud and hand basin partially blocked and therefore slow to empty.

• Central location and v comfortable – Verna from United Kingdom – 26 May 2023 (8/10)

  spacious and modern
  
  What could be improved: shower leaking out as door wasn’t tight so one of us had to hold it shut. and caused issues. we could see how it had happened previously.

• Very good – Helen from United Kingdom – 5 May 2023 (8/10)

  Location and overall ambience were both excellent
  
  What could be improved: Unfortunately the dishwasher did not work, and the gas pressure was very low. The shower door did not fit tightly and so water leaked onto the floor.

• Superb – Lan from Netherlands – 29 November 2022 (9/10)

  Very nice and modern apartment with lots of facilities in a beautiful central area, communication with the host was perfect.
  
  What could be improved: The bed headboard was quite dusty, as well as the space behind the headboard

• Superb – Psm1980 from United Kingdom – 19 October 2022 (9/10)

  Quirky, well designed to use the space well; plenty of space
  
  What could be improved: On minor things. Lots of light switches, hard to fathom what does what! Take the elevator when arriving – on second floor, but that's lots of steps!

• Good – Eija from New Zealand – 11 October 2022 (7/10)

  The location is good. Close to Piazza Maggiore and shops and restaurants.
  Late check-in for a fee was good. Bed and bathroom upstairs adequate but not great.
  
  What could be improved: No tea towels, no washing powder for either dishwasher or washing machine.. No hand soap in the bathroom. The gas cooker was a bit of a challenge too. The kettle had some mysterious stuff stuck on the bottom so did not use it.

Surroundings

Facilities