Hotel Metropolitan

There are plenty of reasons to be fond of Bologna, from its status as Europe’s oldest university town to its extremely well-regarded culinary scene. Sophisticated and urbane twentieth-century design, however, has not commonly been held to be among Bologna’s attractions. You’re much more likely, in this town, to find yourself steeped in Renaissance splendor. But there are exceptions to every rule, and in Bologna, the exception is the Hotel Metropolitan.

Here what’s antique is more likely to be Art Deco, and the rest is quietly, minimalistically contemporary, with a plenitude of marble in the swanky modern bathrooms. Mostly the look is classic, timeless, with more than a little bit of African influence in the décor and objets. The rooms aren’t enormous, but the clean lines and spare furnishings make them feel airy and expansive.

The hotel’s location, just off the Via dell’Independenza, is pretty much right at the heart of things in Bologna, near most of the city’s major landmarks, close to via Zamboni and the university. For all the cultural attractions it’s easy to forget that Bologna is, in some sense, a typical Italian city — fans of food, wine and fashion will feel right at home.