A uniformed doorman in a small alcove on the Via dell'Indipendenza in Bologna, Italy, is the only hint of an unassuming entry leading to the region's top hotel: the Grand Hotel Majestic Gia Baglioni. The only five-star lodging in the Emilia-Romagna region opened in 1912 and has been a member of Leading Hotels of the World since 1990.
I entered the former 18th-century palace on a rainy weekday morning, deposited into a white marble sanctuary adorned with antique furniture, historical paintings and a glowing chandelier centerpiece. Wandering through the quiet lobby, I admired the sparkling Bulgari jewelry and lacy La Perla lingerie encased in glass boxes that contained baroque details. This vantage point made me feel as if I was transported to one of the country's regal museums, which is not far from reality, given the history of the property.
"It's true," said Maria Elena Valente, the hotel sales manager. "You come here to sleep and you have a museum to visit, too."
We entered Camerino di Europa, the meetings room where the smell of oak filled the air. Gazing at the 16th-century wooden roof accented in gold, which recently underwent several months of renovation, Valente pointed out the wall's uncovered frescos, painted between 1583 and 1584 by the Carracci brothers, whose work was instrumental in the baroque movement. Within moments we were standing by the restrooms, across from which is a preserved ancient Roman military road dating to 187 B.C. that ran from Bologna to Arezzo.
The entire property, including its 109 rooms mostly furnished in 19th-century French Venetian style, underwent a major restoration in 2010 when it was acquired by Italy's Duetorrihotels Group, during which the building's original parquet floors were discovered under the carpet and are back in use. Murano glass is also never far.
Despite the overcast sky, I walked onto the open-air Torre Terrace at the end of the 1930s-style Art Deco Terrace Suite, the most lavish in the hotel, with panoramic views of the bright, orange city. An unobstructed view of the 16th-century Bologna Cathedral is one of the perks for guests and exclusive reception attendees. In the Junior Suite, I gently petted the silk wallpaper and admired the pristine, white bathroom only accented with faint gray blended into the Carrara marble sink. Every detail of the property is purposeful and precious, and each room has a copy of the book "Mozart in Bologna: The Exam at Philharmonic Academy," by Beatrice Buscaroli.
In the downstairs sitting area, a couple sipping tea was surrounded by framed photos displayed on decades-old furniture, boasting notable former guests, including Princess Diana, Mariah Carey and Bill and Hillary Clinton. I walked around the corner through Cafe Marinetti, which carries the name of Filippo Tommaso Marinetti, who initiated the 20th-century Futurism movement.
In 2014, the hotel hosted a celebration for the 100-year anniversary of the Futurist exhibition that was displayed in the basement. Even a short visit to the property is a lavish lesson in local history.
See grandhotelmajestic.duetorrihotels.com/en.