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Ferrara: Locanda Borgonuovo

Via Cairoli 29, Phone: 0532.211100
www.borgonuovo.com

Reviewed by: WVCyndy from WV, review #1519

When: May 2006

This charming little B&B is located in the centro storico in the pedestrian zone, reasonably priced, has parking available and includes use of bicycles.

This quirky B&B features turtles in its tiny interior courtyard and a breakfast room overflowing with art, antiques and kitsch. It was well-situated for exploring the walled town of Ferrara.

My husband and I had the tiniest room for a tiny €75; parking in a courtyard parking lot for an additional €5. Friends with three children stayed the weekend after us in the spacious apartment and also felt they got a good price. We enjoyed riding the Locanda's bikes in flat Ferrara and walking on the miles of trails on and by the walls!

Reviewed by: casole from MA, review #886

When: March 2005

We stayed in the dependence suite on the 2nd floor for three nights. The hospitality of Signora Adele Orlandini made us feel right at home, we would go back.

Location and rooms: The Locanda Borgonuovo is centrally located in Ferrara, right near the main square and duomo, in a pedestrian area. Our room was actually a 2 bedroom apartment since we were two couples traveling together and we like an apartment/villa feel to our stays. The bedrooms were good sized, with a large armoire in each. The beds were low to the ground and very firm. You can ask for the beds to be made up either as a double or two singles. The bathroom had a small shower, no tub, but a lot of counter space and it was quite large in size.

Kitchen and other areas: There was a kitchen but we didn't use it. The full size refrigerator was stocked as a "mini-bar" with water, soda, some liquors. A coffee maker was there also. The kitchen did have pots/pans for cooking if you wanted to. There was a dining area with four chairs, but no "living room" type space with sofa or anything. It was nicely decorated, and there was up to date information on current art/music happenings.

Accesibility: There is no elevator, and 2nd floor actually meant four flights of stairs (38 steps, my father-in-law counted), so it is not accessible to wheelchairs, and would not be appropriate for someone who has trouble with stairs.

Parking/transportation: The parking is just around the corner in a public lot, for I think it was €4 per day. They gave us the tickets that get put in your window for the amount of time we were there so we didn't have to get a new one each day. There is a private lot kitty corner, but it was full for a "congress". There are bicycles available at no charge also if you want to fit in with the local mode of transportation. I did take a short ride, but as the street got more crowded, I got less coordinated!

Keys: We had our own keys (5 in total!) to get in and out. The keys were a procedure! One for the front door on the street, two for the door to the apartment, one for the bicycles, and one to get in to the main building of the Locanda to come to breakfast. By the time we left I think we had it down. We had two sets. There is a buzzer upstairs to the apartment if someone gets locked out.

Breakfast: The breakfast was included and served from 8-10 on the 3rd floor of the main building where the other rooms are located. In the warmer weather there is a pretty courtyard where breakfast is served. There are several tables beautifully set up in a living area that is full of artwork, and books about art. The breakfast was simple and wonderful. Cappucino, or whatever type of coffee you want, fresh juice, a homemade cake (one day was orange spice, one day a coffee type cake with chocolate chips, the last day a coffee cake with cornflake topping), with homemade preserves (prune and peach), a small dish of fruit (green apples and oranges), and cornetto (I think that's the right term) type rolls. Cheese is also available. Cereals and milk also. The little card in the room said eggs are available for extra cost but we didn't have that. The signora was very attentive, and had tickets on hand for the local art exhibit that was at the national museum.

While not a full service hotel, all you had to do was dial 9 from your room (at reasonable hours of course) and they did answer. We asked for extra pillows which were brought right away. I can't remember if they can do a wake up call.

We felt right at home there. The owner was a lovely woman, she speaks fluent English, and I believe French also. We were presented with a gift of a print suitable for framing when we left, with information about the Ferrarese artist. There is a large room across the street, owned by them also, that is used for performances, weddings etc. We were only able to peek inside because there was a "congress" going on, but it looked beautiful. You can see it on the website.

The street was not too noisy at night. You can hear people walking above sometimes also, but it was fine, and I am a light sleeper. At around 8 AM it gets noisy outside because there was a small cafe/bar right across the street. I considered this my wake up call. I had been worried that it might be too cold, as the "lobby" in the main area was freezing, but it was toasty warm. There was no extra charge for heat. It was a good value (if the dollar had been stronger it would have been even better!). For three nights we paid $394 US or 288 Euro for each couple. That included breakfast each day. The parking and tickets to the musuem we paid separately. Signora Orlandini made us feel so welcome and at home. If you wanted information she would be glad to share it, but she did not impose herself at all. We all agreed that we would stay there again if we come back to the area.

Reviewed by: jgk from FL, review #603

When: June 2004

Small hotel/B&B--Very charming and a great value. Ferrara is a gem of a town and so is this place.

We stayed 1 night in the "dependence suite" which is actually a 2 bedroom apartment 2 doors down from the Locanda. All amenities of the hotel are available to guests--Internet use, library and lovely breakfast in an art-filled room or in the garden.

Adele is charming, entusiastic and very helpful about restaurants, etc. We paid only €200 for the night. The apartment included a fabulous, well equipped kitchen and nice dining area for 4-6. Each bedroom had great beds and a small TV. Very modern bathroom including a real shower.

This review is the opinion of a Slow Travel member and not of slowtrav.com.

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