For a budget-friendly stay in the most atmospheric corner of the city, the Albergo delle Drapperie is hard to beat. It sits on Via Drapperie, the old street of the cloth merchants in the heart of the Quadrilatero, the medieval market district where delis, pasta shops and wine bars spill out under the porticoes. Step out of the door and you are among hanging hams, wheels of Parmigiano and fresh tortellini; walk two minutes and you are on Piazza Maggiore or at the foot of the Two Towers. The hotel occupies an older building, renovated in 2003, and has just twenty-one rooms, each with its own bathroom, ranging from standard doubles and comfort twins to a junior suite. Service is personal, as you would expect in a small family-scale hotel, and guests consistently rate the location and value highly.
Location and getting around: the Quadrilatero is the geographic and culinary heart of Bologna. Piazza Maggiore, San Petronio, the Archiginnasio and the Clock Tower are all within a few minutes, and Santo Stefano is a short walk past the Two Towers. The station is about twenty minutes on foot or a short taxi ride, and the airport around twenty-five minutes by car.
The rooms: twenty-one compact rooms on the upper floors of the building, simply furnished with private bathrooms, with a lift. The junior suite gives extra space for longer stays or families. Rooms are comfortable rather than luxurious, and their charm lies in the building and the setting.
Who it suits: budget-conscious travellers, solo visitors and food lovers who want to be in the thick of the market lanes, and anyone who plans to be out exploring all day.
Good to know: the Quadrilatero is lively in the evening, so light sleepers should ask for a room away from the street. The hotel is in the limited traffic zone with no on-site parking, so arrive by train or taxi. Check whether breakfast is included in your rate; the cafés and bakeries on the doorstep make an easy alternative.
Why stay here
- ✓Quadrilatero market location
- ✓Two minutes to Piazza Maggiore
- ✓Lift
- ✓Private bathroom in every room
- ✓In-room internet
- ✓Free wifi in public areas
- ✓Laundry facilities
- ✓Junior suite available
Good questions
Where is Albergo delle Drapperie?+
It is on Via Drapperie in the Quadrilatero, the medieval market district beside Piazza Maggiore. The square and the Two Towers are about two minutes on foot.
Does Albergo delle Drapperie have parking?+
No, it has no on-site parking and sits inside the limited traffic zone. Arrive by train or taxi, or use a public garage outside the centre.
Is Albergo delle Drapperie quiet at night?+
The market lanes are lively in the evening, so some street noise is possible. Light sleepers should ask for a room away from the street.
