Le Dodici Porte – Porta Mascarella 2 By Bologna District

Le Dodici Porte – Porta Mascarella 2 By Bologna District Overview

You know what caught me off guard about Le Dodici Porte? The name sounds all fancy and intimidating, but honestly, this place feels more like staying at your well-traveled friend’s apartment than some stuffy hotel. It’s tucked away on Via Mario de Maria, which – if you’re not familiar with Bologna – puts you in this perfect sweet spot where you’re close enough to the action but far enough from the tourist chaos around Piazza Maggiore. I mean, you can actually walk to the university area in about ten minutes, and there’s this little osteria just around the corner that serves the kind of tortellini that makes you understand why Bolognese people are so protective of their food traditions.

The whole “Porta Mascarella” thing in the name isn’t just marketing fluff either – you’re literally near one of Bologna’s old city gates, which sounds boring but actually gives you this sense of being connected to the city’s medieval bones. The building itself has that renovated-but-respectful vibe where they’ve kept the character without making you feel like you’re roughing it. The rooms are what I’d call “thoughtfully modern” – clean lines, good lighting for actually reading, and thank god, air conditioning that works properly during those sweltering summer months when Bologna turns into a brick oven. Parking can be a bit of a puzzle (welcome to any Italian city center), but the staff actually knows the neighborhood well enough to give you real directions, not just vague gestures.

What really sold me on this place was the morning routine. You wake up, grab your coffee – and it’s proper Italian coffee, not that watery hotel nonsense – then step outside into a Bologna that’s still waking up. The streets are quiet enough that you can hear the vendors setting up at the market, and if you’re an early riser like me, you’ll catch the locals doing their morning shopping before the day heats up. The 8.8 rating makes sense when you experience little things like the front desk actually remembering your name, or how they don’t make you feel guilty for asking about the best route to avoid the crowds at the Two Towers. It’s not trying to be the fanciest place in Bologna – there are certainly more luxurious options if that’s what you’re after – but it nails that balance of comfort and authenticity that makes you want to stay an extra night just to explore one more hidden corner of the city.

Le Dodici Porte – Porta Mascarella 2 By Bologna District Accommodations

Reviews of Le Dodici Porte – Porta Mascarella 2 By Bologna District

• Nice place to be for short stances – Juan from Spain – 8 July 2025 (8/10)

  Location and in very good condition
  
  What could be improved: Missing a washing machine and a microwave

• Very good – Yves from France – 16 May 2025 (8/10)

  Bon emplacement, bel appartement, neuf,2s de bains .stationnement à côté, mais 15E /24h
  
  What could be improved: mobilier fragile : les pieds des chaises sont à boulonner nettement mieux ,et des pieds sont à recoller . Vaisselle très reduite

• Great apartment fully equipped with good value for money. – Ovidiu from Romania – 8 May 2025 (10/10)

  Very nice new apartment, excelent choice.
  
  What could be improved: Area where is located is a bit dirty and strange people on the street.

• Exceptional – Eliza from Poland – 2 May 2025 (10/10)

  Czyste, przestronne, dobrze wyposażone, w świetnej lokalizacji.
  
  What could be improved: Jedynym minusem jest plac budowy obok i od rano głośno lecz na to nie ma się wpływu

• Superb – Yves from Switzerland – 23 April 2025 (9/10)

  What could be improved: Le chauffage beaucoup trop élevé

• Exceptional – Uysal from Romania – 14 February 2025 (10/10)

  Perfect location , Clean and well equipped.
  
  What could be improved: –

• Wonderful time – Marzena from Poland – 6 February 2025 (10/10)

  A large, spacious, comfortable apartment. Clean, new, fresh and warm (in February). The living area is separated from the two bedrooms. A great convenience is having two bathrooms. The apartment is located in a quiet part od Bologna. There are restaurants, shops and the historical city center nearby. It is close to the train station (5 min. walk). Wonderful contact with Michelle, we received all information. I also appreciate easy check in / check out (e.g. very early in the morning). I would gladly come back for a longer stay.

• Exceptional – Olena from Ukraine – 13 January 2025 (10/10)

  New, spacious, warm apartment. Excellent location on a quiet street close to the central railway station. Very convenient if you travel from Bologna for a day to other cities. The apartment has everything you need, a well-equipped kitchen.

• Spacious new appartment – Marie from Spain – 8 December 2024 (10/10)

  Clean and very spacious. Two full bathrooms, one insuite. All New.
  Walking distance to the center.

• Apartment like a small castle with everything that you need for an amazing citybreak in Bologna – Silviu from Romania – 29 November 2024 (10/10)

  Everything was excellent, brand new refurbished appartment, complete kitchen with everything that you need, 2 bathrooms with shower and bidee, high ceiling ( you feel like living in a small castle, good location next to train station, available parking just 10 meters from block. Everything was perfect. Michele ( our host) amazing person, he answers fast, super super nice guy. Check in and out is automatically with safe smart locker. Building is completely refurbished. Decent price for all that you get. I will repeat it for sure this trip. Bologna and the Motor Valley are unique places to see. Prices in the city are normal to medium.
  
  What could be improved: Michele needs to fix that border on the entrance door. Feels like it is dropping from the door. Because everything else is just perfect perfect.

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