Grand Hotel Majestic già Baglioni

Set in an 18th-century palazzo in Bologna’s historic center, the Grand Hotel Majestic già Baglioni is the grand dame of the city's hotel scene. It’s the oldest in town, with a storied past on proud display — remains of an ancient Roman road are visible in the cellar, intricately painted frescoes depicting European history adorn the restaurant’s curved ceilings, and an elegant red-carpeted staircase connects four levels lined in white marble. It’s a landmark that symbolizes old-world grandeur: apart from the updates you’d expect at any luxury hotel, no one’s experimenting with tradition here.

Rooms have an aristocratic air, with rich brocade drapery, Murano glass chandeliers, Venetian-style furnishings, antique pieces, and spacious bathrooms with separate showers and tubs. Suites are especially opulent, with decorative gilded beds, sophisticated living rooms, and museum-quality oil paintings framed on the walls. One comes with a fireplace and velvet armchairs, another, accessible by a private elevator, offers a large private terrace with views of the cathedral. A lavish breakfast buffet is laid out each morning in the winter garden, with seating on the adjacent terrace in warm weather, and the main restaurant, named for the Carracci brothers, who painted its frescoes, serves classic Bolognese cuisine in a refined setting. A smart-looking café and a series of leafy patios are ideal for aperitivi with a stylish local crowd.