Palazzo Bianchi, spacious apartments near the Baptistery
Palazzo Bianchi is a historic palazzo in the centre of Parma, a few steps from the Baptistery and the Duomo, with spacious apartments and a terrace among the rooftops. I recommend it to anyone who wants to explore the city on foot and needs space, less so to those who want hotel services and breakfast included.
Written by Valeria Romano
Published .
Updated
Mapiola is a travel blog: this is not the official website of Palazzo Bianchi.
Where Palazzo Bianchi is in Parma
Palazzo Bianchi is in the historic centre of Parma, on Strada San Nicolò, a few steps from the Baptistery and the Duomo. It is a location from which you can get around almost everywhere on foot.
The description puts the Baptistery about 100 metres away, Parco Ducale 600 metres and the railway station around 1 km. Parma airport is about 4 km away. Guests are even more specific about the location, talking about a few steps from the Duomo.
An important note. The building is in a limited traffic zone (ZTL), but one guest says they were able to rent a parking space. The private car park is paid, and one person also mentions covered parking.
What the apartments and rooms are like
At Palazzo Bianchi you stay in large, bright units, designed more as apartments than hotel rooms. Guests describe them as spacious, clean and tastefully furnished. One of them mentions a six-bed apartment.
- In the rooms. Air conditioning, flat-screen TV and coffee machine. Some units also have a sitting area.
- The bathroom. Private, with bidet and toiletries, and linen and towels provided.
- The terrace. A group of guests enjoyed the terrace among the rooftops.
- Wi-Fi. Free.
One guest calls it a little bare, but with everything you need. That seems an honest description to me, because the elegance of the historic building matters more than the furniture.
What guests say
On Google the rating is 4.6 from 68 reviews. Nearly all the reviews I read are positive and focus on two things: the location and the host.
- The location. Many people describe it as excellent, in the heart of the centre and a few steps from the Duomo.
- The host. Described as kind, warm and available for any request, including check-in and check-out times.
- The space. For groups or families, several reviews stress that the rooms are large and have several separate areas.
- The atmosphere. One guest talks about class and elegance in a fascinating historic palazzo.
Many people come back here each time they visit Parma. One person says they choose it every time they visit the city.
What to know before booking
The drawbacks exist, and I find them fairly clear.
| What guests like | What is worth knowing |
|---|---|
| Historic centre and Baptistery a few steps away | Limited traffic zone for anyone arriving by car |
| Large, bright apartments | Simple furnishings, sometimes called bare |
| Helpful host | Breakfast not included, parking extra |
One one-star review is harsh. It mentions insufficient cleaning, poor comforts and a car park more than 300 metres away on foot, charged separately, and says the price was that of a higher-category hotel. It is an isolated opinion amid many enthusiastic ones, but it is worth asking first how the parking works.
Who it suits
I recommend it to families and groups of friends who want to sleep inside Parma, with room for everyone and the chance to walk between the Baptistery, the Duomo and Parco Ducale. Anyone arriving by train can also consider the station, about 1 km away.
It is not the right place if you want breakfast in a dining room, a reception open all the time and the services of a four-star hotel. Palazzo Bianchi in Parma is worth it for its location and its welcome, not for luxury.
If your trip continues east, look at B&B Ombretta in Valeggio sul Mincio. Another option for a stop in the Veneto is this very B&B, close to the Mincio.
Passionate about travel and about the kind of places that turn a getaway into something unforgettable. I love writing about hotels, country houses and charming hideaways, helping every traveller find the perfect place to rest and feel at home.
