Albergo Orologio, Brescia

A petite, stylish and impeccably clean hotel with 16 rooms, located a mere stone’s throw from the main town square. Staff are friendly, prices are reasonable, especially if you shop around - on the web - for the best rates.

Rooms are restrained in size but tastefully decorated and clean - same goes for the bathroom. My bedroom window looked-out onto the atmospheric cobbled street below with its lively caffès, so there was some late night/early morning noise although the clock tower - which it’s named after - didn’t cause the noise problem I suspected it might.

Breakfast is served in a room on the mezzanine floor - a pretty copious buffet is provided - the coffee is excellent. There is also a welcoming salone to relax in, tastefully and comfortably decorated, with magazines and books to browse through, at your leisure. Deserves a good three and a half stars…