Hotel Palazzo Piccolomini

With a rich history dating back to the 16th century, the Hotel Palazzo Piccolomini in the historic center of Orvieto, an incredible, walled city perched atop a high hill, was once home to the wealthy Piccolomini family. At the end of the 1980s the palace was rescued from neglect and after many years of restoration, opened in 1999 as a hotel. In the entrance some of the original architectural features remain, accented by a few pieces of antique furniture, but overall the mood is contemporary. From the reception hall, a flight of steps leads up to a large lounge where the frescoed ceiling again attests to the hotel’s glamorous past. However, the room that most portrays the age of the building is the breakfast room in the cellar. It has a giant stone pillar supporting a coved ceiling, an ancient well tucked in a corner, and a carefully preserved medieval stone staircase leading to secret places far below. The standard bedrooms are moderate in size and well equipped in the style of a modern hotel with good lighting, writing desks, satellite TVs, mini-bars, air conditioning, and hairdryers. The hotel sits on a corner facing the small Piazza Ranieri and from here it is a delightful stroll through picturesque little squares to Orvieto’s crown jewel, the stunning, not-to-be-missed cathedral.