The address
Vicolo Viazzolo, 40124 Bologna — a small dead-end lane off Via Castiglione, next to Porta Castiglione, in the historic centre. The exact house number and access instructions are sent via Airbnb after booking.
From Bologna Centrale station
- By bus: about 15 minutes on lines 32 or 33, which run around the ring road (the "viali"); get off near Porta Castiglione.
- On foot: about 30 minutes through the historic centre, via Via Indipendenza and Piazza Maggiore. With light luggage it's the nicest way to arrive.
- By taxi: a few minutes from the taxi rank in front of the station.
Bologna is a high-speed rail hub: by train it's about an hour from Milan, just over half an hour from Florence and around two and a quarter hours from Rome.
From Guglielmo Marconi airport
- Marconi Express: the monorail links the airport to Bologna Centrale in a few minutes; from there take bus 32/33, a taxi, or walk.
- Taxi: straight from the airport to Porta Castiglione, usually 20–25 minutes depending on traffic.
By car: the ZTL and parking
The loft is inside the ZTL (limited traffic zone) of the historic centre, which is enforced by cameras: driving in without a permit means a fine. Rules and hours can change, so always check the latest information on the City of Bologna website. Note too that most of the city has a 30 km/h speed limit.
Porta Castiglione is on the ring road, so you can drive right up to it without entering the ZTL. Our recommendations:
- Garage San Mamolo — partner car park about 200 m away, paid. Give them your number plate.
- Staveco car park — just outside the walls, about a 5-minute walk.
- Blue-line street parking — on the ring road outside Porta Castiglione.
When you arrive
- Self check-in with a keypad, at any time: your personal code is sent on the day of arrival.
- The loft is on the first and top floor, up a flight of stairs, with no lift.
- Free luggage storage, roughly between 11am and 3pm, if you arrive early or leave late.
Once you're settled in, here's what to see in the neighbourhood.