The Vibe: 13th-century inn meets 21st-century Italian design.
The Area: In the heart of Siena’s medieval center.
The DNA: Palazzetto Rosso is a luxury design boutique hotel set in an inn from the 13th-century, having hosted travelers for eight centuries. The original façade, decorated with traditional wrought-iron ensigns and flares, remains the same. Inside, the majestic arched hall, high vaulted ceilings, curving archways, red brick walls and richly frescoed ceiling rich frescoes are combined with cutting-edge Italian design. Slate gray floor tiles are by 14 Ora Italiana, the mod Zippo banquettes and cool white bar by Claudio Dondoli and Marco Pocci, the lighting scheme by Michele De Lucchi and Giancarlo Fassina for Artémide. The bistro tables by Luca Nichetto for Casamania are done in black and white, the official colors of Siena. And there are brightly coloured 3D armchairs by Pedrali, red N7 table and Muuto Oslo armchairs, not to mention pieces from Kartell and Seletti. A generous sweet and savoury breakfast (included in the rate) is made up exclusively of top-quality products selected from the region’s best producers: seasonal fruit, fresh bread and pastries, honey and marmalades, yoghurts and cereals, fruit juices, cheeses and cold cuts. In the afternoon, the hotel offers guests a snack of cakes, dry pastries, fruit juices, teas and herbal infusions. In the hotel’s charming enoteca -a quiet candlelit venue-, guests can enjoy a glass or two of Tuscan and national wines.
Suite-Me-Up: An imposing brick staircase leads from the lobby to the guest rooms and suites above. No two rooms are alike, but all feature a mix of old and new, like painted friezes, wood-beamed ceilings, stone fireplaces and Venetian drapery alongside striking modern design pieces, Smart TVs, and contemporary artwork. Some suites contain unexpected amenities. In Suite 3, for instance, the bathtub is located in a giant glass and concrete cube in the center of the room, while other rooms offer priceless relics from the past, like a sink fitted with an antique fountain. Rooms overlook the medieval Rocca Salimbeni of the Monte dei Paschi Bank (the oldest existing bank in the world), cobblestone streets or the dome of the Santa Maria in Provenzano’s Church, the famous Torre del Mangia and the gorgeous timeless Siena and Tuscan landscapes.
Seen: archilovers
✅ free Wi-Fi • size matters: 9 rooms & suites (25-53m2) (269-570 sq ft) • hotel opened: 2014 • architecture & interior design: Claudia Pepi, Leonardo Ligabue • public parking at a location nearby (charged) ✅ pet friendly, no charges
