Localita Banchi di Sopra 85, Siena, Italy | (937) 315-4602
Lovingly restored Renaissance palazzo
Located in the heart of the centro storico
Some suites are huge, with Renaissance frescoes and panoramic city views
Fine-dining restaurant
Bar and wine cellar
Free, extensive breakfast
Grand ballroom popular for events
Free Wi-Fi
Decor a bit worn in places, and some rooms have tube-style TVs
No fitness center, pool, or spa
Prices a bit steep for the limited amenities
The only luxury hotel in Siena's centro storico, or historic center, the Grand Hotel Continental is a lovingly restored Renaissance palazzo -- originally a wedding gift from Pope Alexander VII -- and is within a stone's throw of all the city's iconic sights. Rooms range in size and style, but all are inflected with Tuscany's signature Renaissance gilt; lower-priced rooms still have ornate chandeliers, heavy drapes, and rich upholstery, while suites have high, frescoed ceilings, antique furnishings, and panoramic views of the city. Apart from a wine cellar bar and a fine-dining restaurant serving gourmet Tuscan cuisine, there are few other common spaces or facilities (there's no fitness center, pool, or spa), although the grand ballroom would be a memorable place for events. The high price tag is hard to justify given these missing features and the slight wear in some of the rooms, but then there are no comparable options with this level of grandeur and the location can't be beat.
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Scene
Restored Renaissance palazzo with original frescoes and period-inspired decor
The Grand Hotel Continental was originally built as a private palazzo during the Renaissance, a wedding gift from Pope Alexander VII, and its current iteration has seen it lovingly restored, with original frescoes, carved marble, ornate chandeliers, and period-inspired furnishings paying homage to its history. The grand entrance leads into a long hallway with high-arched ceilings, flanked by antique wooden reception desks. The airy hall is lined with elegant, antique-style chairs and sofas, grouped into sitting areas, and there's a small adjacent sitting room that resembles a library, with terra-cotta floors, Persian carpets, a handful of delicate sofas and armchairs, a wall of bookshelves, and a crystal chandelier – in addition to a computer for guests' use and a flat-screen TV. The hotel also has a number of spaces popular for events, including its grand ballroom, a high-ceilinged affair covered in frescoes and outfitted with green velvet sofas and chairs when not in use. The fine-dining restaurant occupies the central atrium, as well as a less romantic adjacent room whose upholstered red chairs feel too much out of a conference space. The bar, located in the downstairs wine cellar, is more atmospheric, with its historic stone walls and and brick arches.
Location
In the heart of Siena's centro storico
The Grand Hotel Continental is located right in the heart of Siena, among the pedestrian streets of the centro storico, or historic center. The Duomo, Piazza del Campo, and Palazzo Pubblico are all within easy walking distance, as are many other sights. The surrounding streets are filled with restaurants and shops, and the city's renowned palio race goes right by. As the area is mostly reserved for pedestrians, street noise is minimal. Those driving to Siena will find parking difficult and expensive.
Rooms
Renaissance-inspired decor and architectural features, but ranging in size and quality
The rooms at the Grand Hotel Continental range from average-size and somewhat worn to grand and opulent, with Renaissance frescoes and multiple stories. All are inflected with Renaissance style and gilt, with ornate chandeliers and heavy brocaded drapes. The suites are generally quite impressive, and many have four-poster beds, antique furnishings, and panoramic views of the city below. Bathrooms, too, range in size and quality, with some suites having marble tile-work, walk-in rainfall showers, and shower/tub combinations, while lower-priced rooms have just the shower/tub combination, and not all have marble tile. All bathrooms have Penhaligon toiletries, though, and all rooms have fully stocked minibars, TVs (some are tube, some are flat-screen), air-conditioning in summer, and free Wi-Fi.
Features
Relatively limited facilities for the price
The Grand Hotel Continental has relatively limited facilities for a hotel at its price point. The fine-dining restaurant serves excellent Tuscan cuisine, and the free daily breakfast is extensive and high-quality. The bar is located in the atmospheric wine cellar and serves a range of the best Tuscan wines. There are a number of meeting and event spaces, and there's a computer in the lobby for guests' use. The hotel does offer free Wi-Fi. Airport transfers and babysitting services can be arranged. The hotel does not have a fitness center or spa.
