Petronilla Hotel

A tiny and charming boutique hotel in a stone building with wooden shutters, the Petronilla attracts a crowd of art- and history-loving tourists looking to explore Bergamo’s storied heritage. The lobby is a long and narrow, slightly crowded space which fits a curved, dark-wooden reception desk at one end and a bar at the other -- which also serves as the breakfast buffet counter. A few low-lying couches and an armchair sit in front of a fireplace, jutting out across the white and gold marble parquet floor. Around the corner is a small breakfast room that leads to a courtyard garden with high walls covered in ivy. Having just 12 rooms on-site means the vibe is decidedly intimate and peaceful. 

The Hotel Petronilla is located in the center of Bergamo, an area of town packed with red-roofed shops and restaurants. The Accademia Carrara, a gallery with one of Italy’s most important collections of Renaissance art, as well as its modern counterpart, the GAMeC, are both in the Citta Bassa, a 25-minute walk or a 10-minute drive away, while the funicular railway up to the Citta Alta, the older part of town, is a 20-minute walk away. From the top of the funicular, a variety of sights are within steps of each other, including the Duomo, the Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica, and the Piazza Vecchia. Bergamo station is a 15-minute walk or a 10-minute drive away, while transfers to Milan Malpensa airport take an hour by car or between 135 and 150 minutes by public transport. 

The hotel has 12 rooms, each of which has been individually designed, and each of which is stylishly outfitted with modern furniture. Standard Rooms have wood floors, giant works of art above their white linen-topped beds, and a desk and chair nestled in an alcove. With all that furniture, however, rooms can feel a little cramped. Bathrooms are painted vibrant colors -- bright orange or aqua, for instance-- or gleaming white marble, and have standup shower stalls with rainfall showerheads built into the ceiling, and hydromassage jets coming out of their walls. Deluxe Rooms make space for two dining chairs and a table, as well as a reading chair, and there is space to add another bed. 

The Studio Comfort Room is a bright and airy space, with a couch shaped like a giant baseball catcher’s mitt at the foot of a sleek aluminum four-poster bed, and a painting by Giorgio de Chirico with a glove that mirrors the one at the foot of the bed. This room includes a furnished balcony, a walk-in closet, and a chocolate-colored bathroom. As well as a rainfall shower with walls of jade marble, it has a tub with hydromassage jets and a pillow. All rooms have a minibar, flat-screen TV, safe, free Wi-Fi, turndown service, free bottled water, and welcome snacks for guests. Hairdryers, bidets, and toiletries are also provided.

The most raved-about feature at Petronilla Hotel is the free buffet breakfast, which includes fresh, seasonal fruit and homemade yogurt, local meats and cheeses, house-baked bread and pastries, and hot items cooked-to-order. The property is owned by a family of restauranteurs, who showcase the pride that they take in food. Unfortunately, that's the only meal served on-site. Surprising for a boutique of this size, there's a small gym and spa area, with a cross-trainer, bicycle, treadmill, and some dumbbells, and a wooden hot tub and infrared sauna. Staff can also arrange massage treatments. The hotel has free Wi-Fi throughout.