It was a last minute decision to head to Orvieto after we’d been driving all day from Bari. We hadn’t booked a hotel so just drove up to the top of the hillside town hoping to fall into something. Right at the old town gate I spotted the Hotel Aquila Bianca so quickly ran in to ask about availability and prices. At €150 for a triple room it wasn’t exactly cheap but for a 4 star hotel in the centre of a hugely popular tourist town it’s to be expected.
The hotel is in a historic building that has been completely renovated. We had a bit of a misunderstanding with the receptionist who initially told me there was no wifi in the hotel but if I wanted to use the internet I could use her computer. However, on the day I left I discovered there was wifi in the common areas of the hotel and a very weak signal in the room. Private parking is available for €10 euros per night but we found on-street parking right in front of our room for less than that.
The Room
Our beautiful triple room had timber floorboards, air conditioning and a large bathroom with a shower. Even though there was a queen sized bed and a single there was still plenty of room to move around. There was only one chair to sit on but that wasn’t a huge problem as we didn’t spend much time in the room anyway.
The room overlooked the main street into Orvieto but for the most part it was very quiet.
The Bathroom
The modern bathroom had a bidet and shower (no bath) and 3 sets of toiletries and slippers.
The Breakfast
Breakfast was included in the cost of the room and along with the typical continental breakfast foods they also had homemade cakes and biscuits which was a nice touch.
The Location
Easily accessible by car and a 5-10 minute walk to the stunning Duomo cathedral, the location is absolutely perfect. I wouldn’t want to stay any closer to the cathedral as many of the streets are pedestrian only which makes driving around a little complicated. There are many cafes and restaurants in the vicinity of the hotel including one directly opposite.
Summary
The Hotel Aquila Bianca is a beautiful 4 star hotel in the perfect location for visiting Orvieto. The hotel staff were mostly helpful but the mix up with the wifi was annoying and even though the woman on reception knew I had left my car on the street she tried to charge me for parking when I checked out. Having said that, it wouldn’t stop me from staying there again. You can book Hotel Aquila Bianco via Booking.com.
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