La Siesta

I spent a night in B&B la Siesta, October 15/16, 2010. I did reserve a single room (on booking.com) for 55 eur/night. I was pleasantly surprised to receive, in less than 24 hours after my reservation, a SMS that confirmed my reservation and asked for the hour I would check-in. The owners offered free pick-up from the train station and ordered a taxi for the next morning (17 eur for the Orio al Serio airport). Location is convenient, 5 min to the shopping area in the lower city, 10 min walking to the funicular to Bergamo Alta. The B&B is located in an old palazzo, in course of restoration: half of the façade was already restored at the time of my visit. It consists of two rooms, both doubles. One with internal bathroom, the second (that I occupied as a single) with a separate bathroom across the hall. Furniture in the rooms is comfortable and classy, some old pieces perfectly preserved. Bathrooms are modern, large and with all amenities. There was also heating, working at the time of my visit, very convenient since the nights were quite cold. Guests have access to a large living and to a modern kitchen. Fruit juice, water, coffee, fruits, pastries were available for consumption anytime during the day. For people on self-catering, the free use of the kitchen is extremely convenient. Smoking was allowed on the large terrace, with access both from my room and the living room. The place gives a general impression of "home away from home", you feel welcome and the owners are extremely kind and helpful. They provide maps of the city and all information needed for a first timer in Bergamo. For me, that I am using Italian only when traveling, to have a long evening conversation with the lady owner was a real bonus; besides exercising my Italian I had some insights on the day life in Italy, on the local traditions and food specialties. I think that that B&B is a real find, I will certainly return there when visiting Bergamo again.