Hotel Ilaria

The setting and decor of the Hotel Ilaria combine to create a homey ambiance. Guests enter the property by passing under a brick archway into a stone courtyard. There is a softness to the hotel, from its pale-yellow exterior to its lobby with comfortable upholstered furniture, ginger-jar lamps, and stacks of books and newspapers. Breakfast is offered in a bright atrium space at small wooden tables on a terra-cotta floor. The hotel's terrace has greenery in planters and ivy on trellises, with contemporary lounge chairs and umbrellas, and off to one side, a rather ungainly hot tub that doesn't afford much privacy. Overall, the look is pleasant, if not quite chic. This property attracts a mixed crowd of couples, families, and some business travelers, many from northern Europe. 

Hotel Ilaria is located in the historic city of Lucca, inside its 16th- and 17th-century ramparts. The Villa Bottini, an exquisite 16th-century mansion and garden, is a one-minute walk from the hotel, while the Cathedrale di Lucca is a seven-minute walk, and the Guinigi Tower is a five-minute walk. The Mura di Lucca, the city's fortified walls built from 1504 to 1648, are five minutes away on foot. The Palazzo Pfanner -- the 17th-century home of a noble merchant family -- is a 10-minute walk. Le Cavour railway station is an 11-minute walk. Pisa is half an hour away by car or 38 minutes by train, while Florence is a one-hour drive or a 90-minute train ride.  The Florence Airport takes around 80 minutes to reach by car, traffic permitting.

There are a variety of room sizes at the Hotel Ilaria, both in the main hotel and in the annex, Residenza d'Alba. The decor in these otherwise traditional spaces leans toward contemporary, with sleeker furnishings than in the common areas of the hotel and uplighting from plain, wall-mounted fixtures. The wood accents are honey-colored in some rooms, with padded headboards or burled-wood chests and armoires in pared-down styles. Some glossy wooden floors are accented with Oriental rugs, and the white bed linens are contrasted by monochromatic throws and pillows. Many of the windows have views of the city's historic sites and are covered in sheers, with pulled-back draperies. Some units have two bathrooms and a loft-style layout. All rooms have air-conditioning and come with bathrobes, coffee and snacks; microwaves, mini-fridges, cots, and cribs are available on request. Housekeeping is on a twice-daily basis.The pretty bathrooms feature cobalt-blue tiled floors and white-tile walls with cobalt accents, plus sinks are set in long counters and walk-in showers or glassed-in shower/tub combos. Some have jetted tubs, and all come with hairdryers and magnifying mirrors. 

The Hotel Ilaria is generous with its offerings, from the free breakfast served each morning in the atrium to free drinks in the lobby each evening with snacks. There is coffee, including espresso, and snacks offered throughout the day in the lobby, where guests will find interesting books and newspapers. There's also a small gift shop although the stores in Lucca are a better bet for interesting souvenirs. The hotel offers loaner bikes so that guests can explore the meandering city of Lucca as well as free audio guides. Other features include two generously proportioned meeting rooms, tech support, audio-visual equipment, plus free Wi-Fi. The front desk is staffed 24 hours and can provide concierge services, rental car assistance, laundry/dry cleaning, and airport and train transfers (for a fee). Babysitting services can be obtained, and the hotel has some supervised activities for children. Small pets are allowed.