The location is really convenient: the hotel is inside the traffic-limited area but close to the…read morefree access zone and parking lots (not bad, if you are with a car). It's also close to one of the most elegant and fancy areas of Bologna (Galleria Cavour) and just 5 mins walking from Piazza Maggiore. The hotel in itself it's a real boutique hotel, that kind of effortlessly chic design for the lobby and the common areas, the Italian classic for the rooms. The rooftop is worth the staying. You have the most amazing view over the typical red roofs and clock towers of Bologna, while enjoying a Jacuzzi or a glass of wine in the lounge corner. Very sofisticate, but without trying too hard, if you know what i mean... As for the breakfast, there is quite a choice of handmade cakes, croissants, fresh fruit. The continental breakfast is also available (sausages, eggs, ham, salami, vegetables, etc.), but I didn't try it, since I am Italian and a purist! The staff is super kind and helpful. Elena, the girl at the reception, gave me the coolest advice, spacing from how to enjoy my staying in Bologna to where I could find the best flower shop in town! I will definitely choose it again, next time I am in Bologna.

Casa Bertagni is a villa/mansion turned into a guest house. It is run by an Italian couple. It's…read morelike a luxurious bed and breakfast. It is located in a quiet part of the city but is within an easy walking distance from the main square, Piazza Maggiore. While I don't think it's in a bad neighborhood, the front gate is always locked and the hallway doors are also lock around the clock. The decor is eclectic (or even funky). See my photos. You will be the judge. It's an old building but is clean and well maintained. Our room was clean and spacious. Lots of storing space and a high ceiling. The AC worked great, too. The breakfast was one of the highlights. Both the quality and the selection are excellent. The photos speak for themselves. If I go back to Bologna, I will definitely stay here. I highly recommend Casa Bertagni to anyone! ***************************** If you found something useful in my review, please hit "useful" to let me know. Your feedback helps me improve my future reviews. If you love food and traveling, follow me, or better yet, let's become friends on Yelp! If you think your friends will find my review useful, please share it with them! Thank you and happy Yelping!

Guido and his staff make it look so easy. If it was so easy, every hostelry would have incredible…read moredesign, gracious service, amazing breakfasts, and a superb location. My wife and I usually stay in apartments utilizing multiple services for our reservations. Casa Bertagni showed me what I was missing. Our room was large, with an amazingly comfortable bed, and easy to regulate heat/AC. The bathroom had a double head rain shower and the nicest, thick towels. Viscount Guido, an architect by trade and nature, is Philippe Starck, Kelly Wearstler, Marcel Wanders, Timothy Corrigan etc. wrapped up in one package, His designs at Casa Bertagni are whimsical and beautiful. There was so much to look at, and travelers feel enveloped in luxury. The staff is kind, friendly, warm and ridiculously accommodating. This has to be the very best place to stay in Bologna. I would like to clone Casa Bertagni.

DO NOT GO HERE!!!!! It is the worst-case-scenario: you book…read morea room, they confirm, and afterwards the confirmation is rejected. Bad! Bad! Bad! This hotel cannot be trusted for their booking-confirmations. You will have to find yourself another hotel anyway.

We stayed at this B&B during September 2013, traveling with friends and renting both rooms in the…read moreapartment. While spartan in their furnishings, each room was spacious and had ensuite facilities, good storage for our clothes and gear, and air conditioning. Breakfast was very basic, with a capsule coffee maker (very popular in Italy these days) and some packaged baked goods; but Ruggero was constantly surprising us by leaving us cookies, biscotti, and other treats he'd made himself. When we arrived, our laptops did not work with his internet system, so he immediately called in a tekkie and we were soon connected. His wife and son run a nice café in the town center, and he made sure that we got a discount when we had lunch there one day. For location, value, and a genuine sense of hospitality, this place cannot be beat. A previous reviewer said their reservation had not been honored; we believe this could only be because he had not sent the deposit as requested. Perhaps he did not understand the use of the word "parra" (we weren't sure what it meant at first, either) to hold the room. We found Ruggero to be a very organized and responsive host, one who would not forget or blow off a commitment like this. Also, we located a good self-service laundry about 5 blocks away, on via Azzo Gardino just above via Reno. There is a shortcut through a little park which will take several blocks off your trip.

Rita Lucherini's hands on cooking class was a delight. With one day's notice, she picked us up at…read moreour hotel in Barga. In her large kitchen we made bruschetta, farro soup, 4 kinds of pasta from scratch (tagliatelle, maccheroni, ravioli, and spaghetti), 4 sauces (pomodoro, ragu, Salciccia , and butter with fresh sage), and tiramisu. Lots of chopping and simmering and getting our hands "dirty"! While cooking we had white wine, then red with dinner. She's a great teacher. Nothing fancy, just how to make good food in a simple way. Price was 85 euro each....we thought that was quite reasonable for 5 hours of cooking and eating, with recipes to take home! She's Italian, born in Scotland, so excellent English. Rita also has a few apartments and a B&B called La Mezzaluna, so she offers 4 and 7 day cooking experiences with some side trips to nearby places in Tuscany. Much less expensive than the upscale, pricey things I've seen advertised. I think her website is www.residencelamezzaluna.it She's also on Facebook.

From the owner: Have fun and join our cookery and wine tasting holiday in this beautiful part of Northern Tuscany…read more Combine cooking and wine tasting and learn all the basic Italian cooking techniques and traditions la bella "Garfagnana and Serchio Valley has to offer. We will visit our local market, wander the streets of Barga, known as one of the prettiest villages in Italy and we shall visit Lucca and Pisa .The most part of the time there are concerts, folk festivals, outdoor food festivals (where you can savour typical products), theatre, Barga Jazz and the Opera Barga. Available is my 4 night and 7 night holiday which includes accomodation all meals airport and local transfers,cooking and wine tasting sessions plus live entertainment with Alex. You may want to join my daily lesson which lasts 4 hours and we will then savour together our meal prepared with a glass of finest Tuscan wine. Come to La Mezzaluna and Cook and Dine with Rita Tuscan Style..