Staying in an 18th-century palazzo is like living in a history book, travelling through time every step you take. Especially if the building is in the old heart of Bologna, surrounded by streets and monuments which – like so many clues scattered along the unmissable itinerary – tell the story of a city with which it has a profound cultural bond. The Grand Hotel Majestic “già Baglioni” is a museum in its own right that preserves inestimable treasures such as the first known work by the Carracci brothers, the Camerino d’Europa. Sleeping at the Majestic means being able to choose a suite with a unique history to nurture your dreams in. 

 

Each suite has its own past and its own style, welcoming visitors with its very uniqueness. Many of the suites at the Majestic are on the first floor, also known as the piano nobile. This detail in itself reveals the origins of the building: the piano nobile, in fact, was typical of palazzi and villas in the past, and its apartments and bedrooms constituted the residence of the noble owners. The suites on the piano nobile are all dedicated to historical figures from the Emilia Romagna region, often with ties with Bologna and the history of the hotel itself. Such as Giambologna, the pseudonym of the Flemish sculptor Jean de Boulogne who produced the famous Fountain of Neptune adjacent to Piazza Maggiore in the second half of the 16th century. Or Giuseppe Verdi, the Emilian composer who was the symbol of the Italian risorgimento. Or Giorgio Morandi, the distinguished 20th-century painter who was  born in Bologna.  

 

The Junior Suites measure 50 square metres and have all been totally refurbished with harmonious, elegant details in the French 18th-century style. The fabrics for the upholstery have original patterns, the decorations are in warm shades, and the bathrooms are tiled with precious white marble. A predominant colour has been chosen for each to give them a unique personality. 

In the Presidential Suite Giambologna it’s possible to admire the original dressing table used by Lady Diana during her stay at the Majestic. The suite was born of a fusion between two of the most beautiful and historical classic Venetian-style rooms: in the sleeping area is a two-poster bed surrounded by walls lined with precious fabrics, together with two elegant display cabinets containing delicate porcelains and original British silverware from the Victorian period. The two bathrooms are tiled with Carrara marble and the living area is appointed with antique French furniture. 

 

Also on the piano nobile is the Presidential Suite Giuseppe Verdi, one of the most exclusive, which looks out onto Via dell’Indipendenza. The spacious entrance leads into an elegant French-style parlour with glass cabinets and walls covered with precious fabrics. Every detail is designed to offer total comfort, from the king-size bed to a walk-in wardrobe that communicates with the bathroom with its double basin and jacuzzi. The Presidential Suite can be converted into a Royal Suite, with two separate bedrooms to ensure guests a fabulous stay. Parquets on one side, marble on the other, precious velvet upholstery, regal armchairs, period fireplaces, and a drinks cabinet round off the ambience.

 

Taking the dedicated lift up to the fifth and top floor, we come to the Art Déco Terrace Suite, whose distinctive style is unique for the hotel: every detail evokes the Art Déco of the 1930s, from the two bedrooms decorated in black and silver grey to the bathrooms tiled with white and black Carrara marble with silver accents. The spacious lounge, complete with bar cabinet, leads onto the terrace, which allows you to see the city from a unique perspective, with a bird’s-eye view of the Church of San Pietro and the surrounding hills to the rear. What a gem of a place to stay!