Small, elegant and across the piazza from the Castello Estense, the Albergo Annunziata is the perfect blend of brilliant italian design in an historic setting. For those of you who have seen the film Garden of the Finzi-Contini, you will remember the beautifully austere and tranquil city of Ferrara; Annunziata is the perfect reflection of this city's demeanor. The Piazza Republica on which the hotel is located is pedestrian only; cars are permitted only for dropping off luggage and passengers. The hotel does have a dedicated car park located a short distance from the hotel. If I recall correctly, our room was located on the second floor in the front of the building facing the piazza and the castello. Although the hotel was fully occupied during our stay, the rooms are blissfully quiet and there is virtually no noise from the hallways to the rooms. There is a lift, air-conditioning and heat and splendid lighting both for reading and in the bath. The bathrooms are new and well-designed and and although not spacious the are certainly adequate. They have both a hairdryer and a magnifying mirror.
The well-designed rooms have ample space for unpacking for an extended stay; the breakfast which was included, is bountiful by any standards and included meats, cheeses, eggs, pastries, fruits of all description as well as yogurt and cereals. It was fresh and replenished regularly by the pleasant staff who would also bring you an espresso/cappucino. The hotel staff is gracious and professional however, their english is limited which might be a problem for some. (We didn't encounter any other english speaking guests while we were there.) The Hotel keeps a fleet of bikes for the use of the guests as cars are prohibited in much of Ferrara and the residents, young and old get around by bicycle. Ferrara has a lively arts scene and the hotel lobby is well stocked with timely brochures describing the many art and music offerings in season. Additionally they offer the guests the use of a computer with internet connection without charge.
