Hotel Greif

Dating back over five centuries, Hotel Grief can certainly lay claim to being one of the oldest guest houses in Bolzano. As well as its roots hailing from the Middle Ages, the hotel has also been in the Staffler family continuously since as far back as 1816. Six years of renovations at the end of the 20th century also transformed the property, which reopened in 2000, into an undeniably unique design-led and art-infused hotel. While retaining most of its traditional facade, a modern glass arch marks the hotel's entrance, which also features two large carved-wood doors from the original portal. Inside, the lobby area is sparse, without being minimalist, and pleasant though slightly underwhelming. Just off the lobby, however, is a swish and colorful bar with edgy interiors that points to the creative spirit behind the hotel. The original staircase spirals up the property's three floors, flooded with natural light from a ceiling window. A rooftop terrace provides an outdoor place to relax over the summer months, and the hotel's shared facilities -- such as a pool garden and restaurant -- with a nearby sister hotel. Clientele are mostly composed of vacationing couples, with families and business travelers making up the rest of the visitors. 

The hotel has a prime location right on the pretty Piazza Walther in the historic center of Bolzano -- the capital city of the province of South Tyrol in northeastern Italy. There are numerous bars, cafes, and restaurants in the charming cobbled streets surrounding the main square, as well the 14th-century Gothic cathedral just opposite. It's a seven-minute walk to the Museum of Archaeology, which houses the famous 5,000-year-old remains of an ice-age man. It's 10 minutes from Museion, the city's ultra-contemporary modern art museum. The main train station, Bolzano Bozen, is less than a five-minute walk away. 

The hotel's 33 rooms are the stars of the show, each with unique touches such as oil paintings, sketches, sculptures, photos, and even art installations provided by an individual artist. Common to all rooms is wenge-wood flooring and Iranian Gabbeh rugs, while many rooms also feature pieces of restored Biedermeier furniture (rescued from the old hotel). Others feature smart contemporary seating. Rooms also vary in shape and size, with standard rooms measuring around 270 square feet (25 square meters) on up to Junior Suite Deluxe Rooms at 680 square feet (63 square meters). Rooms are all air-conditioned and include HD TVs (32- or 40-inch with 250 channels), coffee- and tea-making facilities, and minibars stocked with interesting local tipples. Wi-Fi is free of charge and reliable. Bathrooms are all finished in marble, with features such as shower/tub combos, heated towel rails, hairdryers, and quality toiletries. Bathrobes and slippers also come as standard, while some Junior Suites add whirlpool tubs or saunas. Some bathrooms can be on the small side. Pricier rooms tend to have views over the square and mountains beyond, while cheaper options overlook the side street and can lack natural light.

As this is a boutique hotel, don't expect too much in the way of on-site facilities. What it does have is a breakfast room serving an excellent morning spread that includes homemade cakes and jams, freshly squeezed orange juice, freshly baked bread, and eggs cooked to order. The meal is included in the room rate and served on a sunny patio that opens in summer. There's another rooftop terrace where guests can enjoy evening drinks, as well as a trendy lobby-level bar that serves cracking cocktails and a choice of 25 gins. With just a small gym, health facilities are limited, though guests also have swimming pool access at sister Parkhotel Laurin a few minutes' walk away.