RESIDENZA DEL RE

This marvellous apartment (140 sq.mt) is on the 3rd floor, with elevator (chair lift up to the first floor), in Palazzo Banchi. Located in the very heart of Bologna city centre, on the eastern side of Piazza Maggiore, it is placed right beside San Petronio Basilica and is named after the Medieval bank shops. The building dates back to 1412, whist the façade and the ‘portico’ were finished in 1568; in 2010 Palazzo Banchi was fully renovated, and it has been newly furnished in August 2014.

The focal point of the property is the bright double reception room, that welcomes the guests once they cross the hallway: the space is divided by an elegant column creating a niche, further embellished with a precious painting. The original flooring (Venetian terrazzo, ‘seminato’) has been kept and polished, whilst in the bedrooms there is oak parquet. The many windows, preserving the XIX-century façade, offer breathtaking views of Piazza Maggiore.
The apartment has high-end finishes, such as air conditioning, independent heating, and sound-proofed, insulated windows and doors. The furniture is completed by some refined pieces of modern art and lithographs of famous Italian artists, that bestow an elegant, refined atmosphere to the ambience.
The living room is divided into two parts: the first one comprises an incredibly large dining room, furnished with a wooden table for up to 10 people and lit by a breathtaking glass skylight; there is also a cosy study corner furnished with a writing desk and a single sofa bed. The box room is beside the living room.
The second half is for entertainment and is fitted with a flat screen TV, a bookcase, two single sofa beds and some plushy poufs.
The eat-in kitchen is located next to the dining room, separated by a door. It is fully equipped with a electric oven and dishwasher; guests can also benefit from a functional dining table for 3 people and a dresser.

The night area is composed of three bedrooms and two bathrooms. The master bedroom overlooks Via delle Pescherie Vecchie, a picturesque alleyway in Bologna city centre, and it is furnished with a big wardrobe and a comfortable double bed (composed by two single beds). The bedroom also comes with a private en-suite bathroom, decorated with mosaic tiles and equipped with shower stall.
The second bedroom is very spacious and overlooks Piazza Maggiore: it is furnished with double bed (composed by two single beds), a spacious wardrobe and a desk. The third bedroom is less spacious than the other two and has been furnished with both a single bed and a roll-out bed (they can be combined together into a double bed). The second bathroom, with cotto tiles, is equipped with tub.

Some of the windows are positioned a few centimeters from the floor and do not have protective barriers if opened, making this apartment less suitable for toddlers.

Area
The building is located right in Bologna city centre: Piazza Maggiore is the city’s main square and is surrounded by some of its most precious buildings. The oldest one is Palazzo Podestà, dating back to 1200 and dominated by the Arengo Tower; Palazzo Re Enzo, famous for its cross vaults, is right at the back.
Opposite Palazzo dei Banchi you find Palazzo d'Accursio, a monumental architectonical complex dating back to the XIV century home to Bologna town hall. On the fourth side of the square there is San Petronio Basilica, a brilliant example of Italian gothic, started at the end of the XIV century and never completed. Palazzo Banchi is connected to the most important ‘portico’ in Italy – known as Pavaglione– developing from Piazza Maggiore to Palazzo dell'Archiginnasio, that first hosted Bologna university.
Nowadays the university is located at approx. 5 minutes on foot from the building, in via Zamboni; in the vicinity you also find the Teatro Comunale, largely renowned for the opera season.
The most important historic sights of Bologna are just minutes away, such as Piazza Santo Stefano (with seven churches built one into the other and the Corte Isolani) and the Two Towers (Torre degli Asinelli and Torre della Garisenda). The ‘portico’ of Palazzo dei Banchi is one of the fourth sides of the ‘Quadrilatero’: a complex of pedestrian streets filled with mouthwatering shops offering the best products of the area (hand-made pasta, sausages, wine) and fresh groceries.
And if you miss shopping, enjoy a spree around via Indipendenza, the boutiques of Galleria Cavour and the refined shops of via Farini and via d'Azeglio.

Public transports
The closet bus stop is located in via Rizzoli and allows to quickly reach the railway station (take here the shuttle bus to the airport), to Bologna fair and the main hospitals. All the major sights in Bologna are within walking distance.

Parking
The apartment is located in a Limited Traffic Area (ZTL). On Saturdays and Sundays the city centre is a pedestrian area.
You can park in the nearby Piazza Galvani, accessed from via Farini, or you can leave your car in Piazza VIII Agosto, at 5 minutes on foot from Piazza Maggiore.