Hotel berhampiran Cerpiano, Marzabotto

We stayed here one night as part of our visit to the region near Modena. It started off badly - we’d booked through ********** and a couple of days before we received a threatening automated email saying we needed to complete a form with all of our personal details including passport info/ dates of birth/ a photo of each of us holding our passport/ contact info etc… or we would not receive the email about how to check in. We filled out the form, and even though it said it didn’t need all of the info for the kids, it then wouldn’t let us submit without it. We complied and then received another email later with a link to the check in info. When we tried to just use maps to google and navigate to “Ca' Palazzo Malvasia” google said “permanently closed”. We put in the address to the place per the ********** booking confirmation and it took us through about an hours with of tiny windy backroads through the countryside that were 2 way but were the size of a one way street - terrifying! We arrived at the address but whilst the gate looked the same, the keypad and signs on it were different from the photo provided of the gates in the link to the “check in info”. There was no phone number in the link, so we were very panicked - in the middle of the forest and lost with no number. We tried to ask a neighbour, but we got more lost. We eventually found a contact number on ********** and got some more info and found the place. I think there may be 2 entrances which caused the confusion. When we arrived the place around 7pm and it felt very creepy. It was a totally empty castle in the middle of a dark forest with no one else there. We used the key code to enter and lights turned on as we walked through and found our room. Once we got to the room, it was large, clean and nice with comfy beds, wifi and a good bathroom. I contacted the same person again with a couple of questions and they were very responsive. We slept well. There was a tiny bar fridge in the room and a communal kitchen used for breakfast, but this fridge was pretty full so we didn’t use it to store our food. Later on more people arrived at the castle and it was much less creepy. In the morning there was a buffet breakfast, it was mainly lots of different cakes/cereals/ yoghurt. No fresh fruit.

Abito a Zola Predosa e per lavoro spesso accompagno miei collaboratori in questo hotel da anni (dove prenoto lasciando sempre la mia carta a garanzia), questo week end ho accompagnato 2 miei soci come di consueto, quando arrivo in hotel non trovo la solita ragazza alla reception (veramente molto brava e sveglia) ma un ragazzo che però rifiuta di farmi salire a salutare i miei soci nonostante ero disponibile a lasciargli il documento (come faccio sempre, oltretutto erano le 19 ed ero andato a prenderli per la cena) e la prenotazione era garantita dalla mia carta. Non ho voluto neanche perdere tempo a discutere con questo personaggio e me ne sono andato, il giorno successivo li ho spostati in altro hotel in zona dove sono più educati verso i propri clienti, è un peccato che dopo anni mi sia trovato in questa situazione grottesca proprio in un hotel da me scelto per i miei soci.

ottimo hotel, ottima pulizia, la colazione normale; alle 8.30 avevano già finito i cornetti ma per la verità dopo che li ho chiesti sono arrivati in pochi minuti... unica pecca, le porte dell'ascensore che spesso si chiudono di colpo come se le fotocellule non funzionassero... porto ancora i lividi sulle braccia, ho preso una botta molto forte... non ho fatto questioni perchè un guasto può sempre capitare, ma ho segnalato la cosa alla reception... spero abbiano provveduto a riparare velocemente il guasto...

We got a beautiful superior room in a tranquil part of the lovely hotel complex with its own balcony! The reception staff, especially Salvo, made us feel very much at home. The neighborhood is just perfect for exploring the city; but also feeling that you are in a quiet little residential nook of Bologna. The garden area is splendid; and we looked forward to an extensive breakfast each morning (even when it rained). Also there is a wonderful ice cream place within about 800 feet of the hotel. On the whole, we strongly recommend the Porta San Mamolo as a “home away from home!” Grazie mille!

A nice central hotel. We stayed as a crew overnighting due a night stop. The hotel is clean and perfectly situated in the city centre for a weekend break. Needs some modernising but not to the extent of it being bad. I would stay again. The staff were very helpful (although the receptionists English was poor. Luckily I spoke Italian). The rooms are adequate and the breakfast was good and substantial. Ordered fresh coffee on tap. Be it espresso, latte, etc.