Gioia House is very close to the metro as well and I found the location great. We ended up walking up Porta Venezia to catch the Hop On/Hop Off tour bus (stop 9) but stop 8 would have been a bit closer. We were able to check-in early which was nice and then Mariagrazia provided us with a map and highlighted a few places. It was quite easy to find as she had provided me with pictures! That was a nice touch! Once inside you didn't feel like you were in the heart of a big city. The host, Mariagrazia, emailed me a few days before to confirm our arrival time as each guest gets a personal greeting. My friend and I stayed at Gioia House for two nights. And, if 15 minutes with the Last Supper just isn't enough, go to nearby San Maurizio, which is covered with frescoes (many painted by artists from Michelangelo's workshop) and where you can linger for free to your heart's content. If lingering over a nice breakfast prevents you following your guidebook's advice to get to the Duomo early, try leaving it till late afternoon, The excellent Duomo museum or the cafe in Palazzo Reale are good places to pass the time while the queues subside (some bits of the interior start getting closed off from 4.30 onwards so don't leave it too late).The top floor of Rinascente provides an alternative view of the roof (without steps or lift queues) - you don't need to buy anything in the food court to get onto the terrace which is almost within touching distance of the Duomo - and it's spectacular at sunset. If you are short of time, or the weather is against you, there are plenty of buses and trams (and the Metro) from nearby Porta Venezia, but otherwise a pleasant stroll across the Giardini Publici will get you well on the way to where you want to go. But, above all, it's well located, midway between Central Station and the historic centre (although admittedly a fairly brisk 15-20 minute walk in either direction). Panino Giusto in Via Malpighi continues to serve drinks and snacks into the evening if you don't fancy an 'Aperitivo' buffet or a full meal. It's quiet (at the back of a courtyard off a pedestrian street) when you want to get away from the crowds, but you don't have to go far to find anything you need. Gioia House has a lot going for it: It's good value in a rather expensive city (especially if, like us, you get upgraded from shared bathroom to en-suite) It's friendly and efficient - from the impeccable directions to make sure you find it, to the coffee that Mariagrazia found when she discovered I was caffeine-intolerant. If lingering over a nice breakfast prevents you following your guidebook's advice to get to the Duomo early, try leaving it till late afternoon, The excellent Duomo museum or the cafe in Palazzo Reale are good places to pass the time while the queues subside (some bits of the interior start getting closed off. Panino Giusto in Via Malpighi continues to serve drinks and snacks into the evening if you don't fancy an 'Aperitivo' buffet or a full meal.īut, above all, it's well located, midway between Central Station and the historic centre (although admittedly a fairly brisk 15-20 minute walk in either direction). It's friendly and efficient - from the impeccable directions to make sure you find it, to the coffee that Mariagrazia found when she discovered I was caffeine-intolerant. It's good value in a rather expensive city (especially if, like us, you get upgraded from shared bathroom to en-suite)
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