Welcome to Italy
Italy’s art cities offer peerless heritage made up of architecture, culture and gastronomic traditions. Bologna, Verona, Florence, Genoa and Milan are places where history and modernity coexist, inviting visitors to discover the area in a structured manner.
The group’s hotels are the ideal bases and starting-out points in these cities to explore some of Italy’s major destinations.
Bologna
Bologna and the wider Emilia-Romagna region are a territory where history, culture and tradition coexist in a dynamic contemporary dimension. With its monumental piazzas, porticoes, museums and shops, the city invites visitors to discover its extensive and structured heritage, composed of art, flavours and relationships.
This is the context in which the Grand Hotel Majestic “già Baglioni” stands, the only five-star luxury hotel in Emilia Romagna, a historic structure of city hospitality, the ideal base and starting point to live and experience the city directly.
Outside the urban centre, the local landscape opens up to hills, art towns and culinary experiences which define the region’s very identity. From cultural roots to food and wine tradition – not forgetting the legendary motor industry – every area helps define a recognisable regional system.
It is a destination which combines tradition with the ability to evolve, offering various methods to discover the local context for those who wish to establish a rapport with it.
Florence
Florence welcomes guests in the natural manner typical of cities which do not need introductions. You need only walk down its streets to feel the presence of the Renaissance, the light reflecting on the palazzi and the rhythm of the Arno river which accompanies day-to-day life.
In the heart of the city is the Bernini Palace Hotel, an historic building which has held different roles across different eras, over time welcoming figures linked to political and cultural life, and today a landmark for those who wish to experience Florence in an evocative and informed manner.
The city stands as a collection of places and perspectives: museums, artisan shops, piazzas and itineraries which recount its historical stratifications, flanked by an active contemporary presence. Every district expresses its own specific identity, and contributes to defining the overall experience.
Beyond the city centre, Tuscany extends amongst hilly landscapes, vineyards and historic villages, with heritage which brings together agricultural tradition, nature, art, culture, and food and wine production. A setting which expands your stay and offers different ways to discover the local area.
Verona
Verona is a city whose charm lies in its scenic grace, weaving eras, romantic atmospheres and literary references which reveal themselves through bright piazzas, medieval palazzi and views which seem suspended in time.
In the heart of this historic fabric is the Due Torri, an authentic jewel set in the city's stone heart. Its rooms have hosted figures such as Mozart, Goethe, Napoleon III, Garibaldi and, above all, Maria Callas, to whom some of its most famous suites are dedicated.
Around the hotel a vibrant historic centre opens up, a labyrinth of elegant streets and animated piazzas, where history and daily life weave together naturally. Verona invites visitors to let its rhythm guide them: from the architecture which recounts centuries of art, to the atmospheres which inspired Romeo and Juliet.
Beyond the city confines, the Veneto region offers a variety of landscapes and splendour: hills covered with vineyards, hamlets facing onto the water, art towns which host unique masterpieces, and locations where tradition meets creativity. It is a region alive with harmonious contrasts, able to surprise with its elegance, its culture and its excellent food and wine.
Verona and the Veneto thus become a journey of emotions and discoveries, where every step reveals a new detail, a flavour, a panorama or a story capable of leaving an indelible memory.
Genoa
Genoa is a city of contrasts: the Palazzi dei Rolli alternate with carruggi, typical Ligurian alleyways; the sea meets the uplands; the historic dimension weaves together with daily life.
The Hotel Bristol Palace reflects its architectural identity, with elements in Liberty style (Italy’s art nouveau), decorative details and rooms reminiscent of structure of the early 20th-century.
The city also expresses itself through the local wine and food culture, with traditional recipes and regional products. The Giotto restaurant offers a contemporary interpretation of Ligurian food, while the terrace offers a space dedicated to al-fresco experiences.
A short walk from the hotel is Palazzo Ducale, the Teatro Carlo Felice theatre, the Genoa Aquarium, the Lighthouse of Genova and the Palazzi dei Rolli, a UNESCO world heritage site.
Another site of interest is Villa Durazzo Pallavicini, which offers an itinerary of gardens, lakes, architecture and scenic landscapes.
Milan
Milan is a continually evolving city, defined by an equilibrium between economic activity, cultural production and urban transformation. Fashion, design, contemporary architecture and the museum system contribute to delineating the international profile.
This is the setting for Hotel Santa Barbara, located on the edge of the city and aimed at business travellers, and Hotel Alga, a structure connected to the main locations for events and shows, including the Mediolanum Forum.
The historic centre of the city hosts some of the main urban landmarks, such as the cathedral (Duomo di Milano), Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, the Sforza Castle and the Brera district.
The Quadrilatero della Moda is the area dedicated to fashion and upscale retail, while the Navigli district offers a more informal dimension, with cultural activities and places for socialising.
The city also offers a robust culinary scene, where local tradition lives alongside international contemporary offerings. The city’s parks round off its system, offering spaces dedicated to free time and relaxation.