L'Arena - Most Prestigious Apartment, the Very Heart of Bologna

• Perfect apartment for families!

  Perfect apartment for families!

  • Guest Becky & Brad
  • Date of stay 01/21/13
  • Review Submitted 04/05/13
  This is the perfect apartment for walking the city. Close to everything. We arrived during the midst of the London snowstorm. Our flights were delayed and cancelled and we arrived VERY late. Carla and her son were there to take care of us even though it was very very late. They had stocked the kitchen with things that we would need the next morning. Two bathrooms was very nice since we had two young female college students with us. The entire place was very clean. The kitchen had all the things we needed to cook lots of meals. I used the washer before we left so the girls would start out with clean clothes....you can't do that in a hotel!! The girls were staying to attend Bologna University for the semester and needed to stay a few hours after my husband and I flew out and Carla very graciously let them remain after check out. Carla also helped us by email find restaurants/grocery stores/bus lines, etc. We are returning in May to retrieve our daughter from Bologna and we hope to stay at this apartment again.

  Recommended for: Tourists without a car, families with teenagers, sightseeing, families with young children.

  Owner response: Thanks so much! We have been working quite a few years now to improve the quality level of our rental and these reviews are our best reward. We look forward to your next visit! Carla

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0

• Beautiful apartment in walking distance to everything

  Beautiful apartment in walking distance to everything

  • Guest Anonymous
  • Date of stay 11/09/12
  • Review Submitted 11/14/12
  We are just wrapping up 6 days at L'Arena and it has been a joy to stay here. The apartment is beautiful and comfortable. We planned to use the well-equipped kitchen more, but the restaurants in the area were just too tempting. We hope to come back some day and would recommend L'Arena to anyone who wants a real Bolognese experience.

  Recommended for: Tourists without a car, age 55+, families with teenagers, sightseeing.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0

• A great home base!

  A great home base!

  • Guest Giovanna
  • Date of stay 05/27/12
  • Review Submitted 06/27/12
  L'Arena apartment was a great home base for our 2 week vacation. We were 8 travelers with no car & took several train trips. In fact everyone said the location & apartment were perfect for our plan of relaxed tourism. The walk to the stazione was easy & in the opposite direction we were in Piazza Maggiore in minutes. The Fri-Sat flea market is 1 block away-easy to shop & drop off your purchases. The Bar Impero downstairs was our main bar morning & night...free pizza at apperitivo hour...just wait for it-you don't order it, it just arrives! "Our" apartment lived up to its online details & reviews---spacious, nice antiques, modern windows, good beds (1 squeaky one), laundry, & excellent location! We loved the homey feel & cooked a few meals as well. Carla & Nino were helpful & close by if we needed help. Via Indipendenza is a busy street weekdays & on weekends until late which means we closed the windows for quiet at night. The charming single bedroom doesn't have air con so windows shut at night might be stuffy in warm weather. Lots of good places to eat nearby...Twinside was our favorite lunch spot for the Farro Minestra Fredda (Turn right-across the street & down 1 block and left on side street. Go out at night & find music on the streets. Pizza at Il Moro further down on same street as Twinside was great. Hard to go wrong really. One of our best meals was the prepared foods we bought in shops of the central market area off Piazza Maggiore. It cost half of a dinner out & was equally scrumptious--be adventurous & bring your shopping bags! We all want to return immediately!

  Recommended for: Tourists without a car, age 55+, families with teenagers, sightseeing.

  Owner response: ... and we'll be more than happy to have you with us immediately! Thanks for your nice words. Ciao, Carla & Nino

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0

• The Best Ever

  The Best Ever

  • Guest garibaldi
  • Date of stay 09/18/11
  • Review Submitted 10/18/11
  For the past 15 yrs.we have been renting apartments in Bologna for an annual trade show. Luckily this year we were able to rent L'Arena for our week long stay.We were 4 co-workers who absolutely loved the ample size rooms, the 2 full bathrooms,laundry facilities, beautiful furnishings,the elevator, and the PERFECT location.The bus to the Fiera outside the door,a 5 minute walk to the train station or the main Piazza, and fantastic restaurants every way that you turn. We would all recomend this property to anyone visiting Bologna, just not the week that we need it next year! We will be back.

  Recommended for: Tourists without a car, age 55+, families with teenagers, girls getaway, sightseeing, families with young children.

  Owner response: Thank you so much! We look forward for more friends to visit and, of course, to have you with us next year. Carla

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0

• 2 week stay

  2 week stay

  • Guest Sissy
  • Date of stay 09/30/11
  • Review Submitted 10/17/11
  The apartment is comfortable, close to the center of Bologna's medieval center. The airport bus stops in front of the door (6 euros to airport). It has an extremely well equipped kitchen for cooking. For sleeping, there are a single room, 2 large "matrimoniale" rooms and one double room with a single bed and a cot--this last might be better suited for kids than adults. The location is very noisy at night in good weather so best to close the windows and run the ac at night even if it isn't hot. WI-Fi and clothes washing machine were very welcome. The owner is helpful is explaining or solving any problems.

  Recommended for: Tourists without a car, age 55+, families with teenagers, sightseeing, families with young children.

  Owner response: Some clarification is needed. The apartemnt is not "close" to the center, but RIGHT in there, with only TWO rooms overlooking Via Indipendenza, Bologna's main street -- some noise can be reasonably expected. As the guest himself admits though, one needs just to close the windows to obtain total quiet, and again, the rest of the house overlooks a very quiet back street. Overall, a very quiet house if you don't leave two windows open in good weather.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0

• Our Easter in Bologna

  Our Easter in Bologna

  • Guest Rita
  • Date of stay 04/21/11
  • Review Submitted 08/09/11
  On our trip to visit our daughter studying in Bologna, staying at L’Arena made our trip. We were traveling in a group of about 15—9 of us stayed at the apartment and the rest were at the hotel just down the street. Even with 9 sleeping in the apartment it was extremely spacious and there was more than enough room for all of us to relax and spend time together. As mentioned in previous reviews, the apartment had an excellent location—10 minutes from the train and 10 minutes in the other direction to the main piazza, Piazza Maggiore. Traveling from Bologna was very simple—all 15 of us spent a day in Ravenna. There was also a great place to get coffee and pastries just below the apartment and a number of wonderful restaurants all within walking distance. It really was the ideal location. Aside from its location, the apartment itself was wonderful. Most nights we ate out, since Bologna has such amazing food; however, we did cook a large dinner on Easter Sunday. The kitchen had everything we needed and we had absolutely no problems. We were also able to set up a large table in the spacious dining room. The apartment really made it a special holiday for all of our family and friends. Touching on the rest of the apartment, the bathrooms were great—it was very helpful to have two! The showers had hot water and great water pressure, and there was a washing machine for optional use. When we got to the apartment and met Carla, she was welcoming and kind, and very patient despite the large excited group. She showed us around the apartment and gave us many helpful tips for our stay. On the day we checked in we decided we needed to add another person (from 8 to 9) and she was more than willing to set up a whole other bed for us right then and there. It was perfect. I can’t think of any complaints about our stay. It was wonderful! We highly recommend it to anyone traveling in a group to Bologna and we hope to stay there again on our next trip to Italy!

  Recommended for: Tourists without a car, age 55+, families with teenagers, girls getaway, sightseeing, families with young children, romantic getaway, adventure seekers.

  Owner response: Thank you so much for this review! We like meeting people and making new friends, so we do all we can to make our guests's stay as pleasant as possible. A rather easy task as our apartment is indeed spacious, well kept and positioned in a prime location, but we also take pride in helping our guests/friends with the many hints and tips one needs when travelling abroad. Again, thank you so much. We look forward for you to come back soon.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0

• Comfortable apartment in a great location

  Comfortable apartment in a great location

  • Guest Michael W.
  • Date of stay 07/03/11
  • Review Submitted 08/05/11
  Prime location, about a 15 minute walk from the train station. It truly is spacious and comfortable. It is an easy walk to major attractions such as Piazza Maggiore with Neptunes fountain and the two leaning towers as well as all the shopping you would wish to do. The front door of the building is flanked by gelato and pastry shops. We enjoyed neighborhood restaurants especially Trattoria Tony. The owners are very friendly and helpful.

  Recommended for: Tourists without a car, age 55+, families with teenagers, sightseeing.

  Owner response: Thanks so much, Michael. I would like to add that, along with many other buses to all spots in town, the BLQ airport-to-center shuttle bus stops right at the door - a big convenience for those flying into Bologna. There are also two big parking lots in the vicinities - one is 150 meters, the other about 2 kms, but it is free of charge with the purchase of a bus ticket a day (1.20 €). We are indeed a key location! We look forward for you guys to come back an stay with us again. Ciao!

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0

• Amazing location, in an incredible city

  Amazing location, in an incredible city

  • Guest CK
  • Date of stay 05/28/11
  • Review Submitted 07/17/11
  We have to admit, we were only in Bologna as it was our airport connection. Are we glad that we made the stop. It was one of our best stays in Italy. The apartment is in a wonderful location and it is a place that easily feels like home. Carla and her husband were very helpful and patient. We had difficulty getting there, as cars cannot go on the road that the apt. is on, and we arrived on the flea market day making getting around to the parking lot, that is close, a bit crazy for us (given we do not read Italian, and Google maps pays no attention to roads that do not allow cars). They waited and made sure we got there okay. They and their tour books provided everything that we needed to see the City. We absolutely loved Bologna and the apt made it very easy to get out, enjoy the vibrance of the City and feel like we were part of it. The apt is a bit noisy, but not in a bad way, it was not a bother. Being on the main street was an important part of the experience. We traveled as a family of 4 (21 month old and 4 yr old). The baby bed was wonderful, high chair perfect, and set up worked wonderfully. We recommend this place, Carla and Nino, and Bologna. What a gift to experience this place.

  Recommended for: Tourists without a car, age 55+, families with teenagers, girls getaway, sightseeing, families with young children, pet owners, romantic getaway, adventure seekers.

  Owner response: Alas! A little noise and driving in a congested traffic is the toll of a central, urban location... Especially on the day of a large open air market. We have just replaced the old windows with new ones though - they are noiseproof and will grant total quiet - if kept closed, of course. Some of them in fact overlook the most vibrant part of Bologna, beautiful Via Indipendenza, which is Bologna's main street with the most important fashion stores, famous restaurants, cafes, etc.. - and, of course, the best stroll in town. No need for a car here! But if you have one, just leave it at the nearby (100 mts.) garage or, if on a market day, at the free parking lot (free!) using the bus to get around. This is the main advantage of our house - centrality, no hassle, total easiness of getting around. The best value for your money and your mind!

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0

• Great Apartment & Stay in Bologna

  Great Apartment & Stay in Bologna

  • Guest Ed B.
  • Date of stay 05/24/11
  • Review Submitted 06/08/11
  Had a great stay at L'Arena. Have to agree with the recent posts that the apartment was very spacious for our family of 5 and in a great location. The food in Bologna was amazing and so many great restaurants within a few blocks. An easy walk to the train station (did day trips to Parma and Ravenna), and to stroll the city. Called Carl when we arrived at Bologna Centrale and she was waiting at the door downstairs when we strolled up. She spent time walking us through and orienting us to the apartment, and giving us tips about the city, grocery shopping, sights, etc. The A/C in the apartment was appreciated as it was warm a few nights. It was also nice having two bathrooms.

  Recommended for: Tourists without a car, families with teenagers, sightseeing.

  Owner response: Thank you, Ed & Diana. We are indeed in the heart of the historical center, just a few minutes from everything and all our guests love that. A very important thing - once in Bologna, use the public transportation and forget about driving. Public transportation (both busses and trains) is fast, reliable and fairly inexpensive. Why bother? Enjoy the city and smell the roses! Ciao.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0

• Absolutely beautiful apartment

  Absolutely beautiful apartment

  • Guest Kristen
  • Date of stay 12/25/10
  • Review Submitted 01/05/11
  Staying at the Arena apartment was one of the best parts of our trip to visit our daughter. We are a family of five and the accomodations were perfect for us. The photos are accurate but can not capture what a wonderful space this is. It was so clean and comfortable. The location is perfect - within minutes of the train station and the aerobus to get to and from the airport. We took the train to Venice, Rome and Florence in the 10 days that we were in Bologna and it was extremely gratifying to have a day to rest and relax and see the local sites in between day trips. The amenities made our stay comfortable- we were able to cook a couple meals at home (be sure to visit the food market and Tamburini early in your stay). The best gelato in Bologna is just a short walk away and there is a wonderful cafe (Impero) just below the apartment. We had absolutely no problems during our stay and the owners were so warm and welcoming to my daughter that we knew we could have called them for any problems- but we didn't have any! We truly enjoyed Bologna and would recommend this apartment to anyone.

  Recommended for: Tourists without a car, age 55+, families with teenagers, girls getaway, sightseeing, families with young children, romantic getaway.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 1/1

2012 RATES = Jun 2-Sep 24: €890; Sep 24-Oct 12: €990; Oct 12-23: €790;
Oct 23-28: €990; Oct 28-Dec 24: €790; Dec 24-Jan 7, 2013: €890 ||
2013 RATES (€) = Jan 7-Mar 7: 590; Mar 7-16: 990; Mar 16-23: 890; Mar 23-Apr 6:
990; Apr 6-Sep 7: 790; Sep 7-21: 890; Sep 21-Oct 20: 990; Oct 20-Dec. 21: 790;
Dec 21-Jan 7, 2014: 890 ||
Rates are weekly, all-inclusive and for up to 2 guests. Cleaning fee: €50.
Each additional guest: €120/week. Children up to age 12: 50% off. Infants: free.
Shorter-than-1-week & long stay rates available. Check-in any day.

Note: Until confirmed, rates are subject to change without notice.

Sorry this information is not available. Please contact the owner/manager for more information.