Hotel Bosone has several things to recommend it: great location, pleasant staff, beautiful breakfast room, reasonable prices.

I've stayed here twice, the second time with other family members. Hotel Bosone is right in the heart of Gubbio, steps away from the Piazza Signoria, Duomo, Palazzo dei Consoli, Palazzo Ducale, several museums and some very nice restaurants (the famous Taverna del Lupo and my favorite, Fornace del Mastro Giorgio).

Hotel Bosone is in a 14th or 15th century palazzo that has been pleasantly restored. Because of its location, parking can be a challenge. (Of course, this is true with any hotel in any hill town in Italy!) The free parking lot (near the Church of St. Agostino outside the Porta Romana, about a 5 minute walk from the hotel) is small. We parked in the not-too-expensive, very large lot by the Church of San Francesco in the Piazza dei 40 Martiri. From here it is more like a 10 minute walk, but all up hill.

Hotel Bosone is not a luxury hotel and the rooms we had were a bit dated and small. However, they were clean and comfortable. Our top-floor rooms had small terraces with a view of the Umbrian valley. Showers were functional but cramped.

The breakfast room on the main floor was elegant and airy with tall ceilings, frescoed walls and pleasant views from the windows. Breakfast was simple - cereals, breads, yogurts, meats and cheeses. Both times I stayed here I found the mix of guests to be very pleasant - several Italians, some Americans, some French.

There are some very interesting, old photos of Gubbio in the hotel. In the bar there is a large photo taken around 1900 and the walls up to the top floor display old photos taken during the Festa dei Ceri.

The hotel staff is very pleasant and helpful. Some speak English better than others but they were all very gracious when we tried to practice our Italian language skills. The night clerk told us some very interesting stories about the history of Gubbio.

If you want a hotel with historical charm that is small and pleasant but not too expensive, this is it. If you are looking for something luxurious, try the Park ai Capuccini just outside Gubbio (still within reasonable walking distance). If you would prefer more of a country feel, try the Oasi Verde Mengara, about 15 km outside of Gubbio.