Rio Fiol Apartment

Hotel Description

You know, I stumbled upon the Rio Fiol Apartment last summer when I was chasing that classic Verona vibe – the kind where you’re wandering cobblestone streets one minute and sipping an Aperol spritz the next. It’s tucked away on Via Daniele Manin, right in the Historical Centre, which honestly feels like the beating heart of the city without being overwhelmingly touristy. I mean, it’s just a short stroll from the Arena di Verona – you can hear the faint echoes of opera rehearsals if you time it right in the evenings – and close enough to Piazza delle Erbe that you can pop over for fresh produce or those irresistible gelato spots that locals swear by. Parking? Well, it’s a bit of a hassle in this pedestrian-heavy area; I ended up leaving my car at a nearby garage on Via Cappello (yeah, the one near Juliet’s House), but once you’re settled, you forget all about it because everything’s walkable. Check-in was a breeze – the host met me at the door with keys and a quick rundown, no fuss, though I wish they’d mentioned the quirky old elevator sooner; it’s one of those tiny ones that creaks like it’s from another era.

What really sold me on Rio Fiol was how it felt like a proper home base rather than just another hotel room – it’s rated 8.8 for a reason, you know? The apartments are spacious, with these high ceilings and exposed beams that give off that authentic Italian charm, sort of like stepping into a renovated palazzo. Mine had a little kitchenette where I whipped up pasta from ingredients I grabbed at the market on Via Mazzini – nothing fancy, but the smell of garlic and basil wafting through made evenings magical. The beds are comfy, with crisp linens that actually feel fresh (not that plasticky stuff you get sometimes), and there’s AC that hums quietly, a godsend in July when Verona gets steamy. Oh, and the balcony – mine overlooked a quiet courtyard, away from the street noise, though you might catch some chatter from nearby cafes in the mornings. It’s not perfect; the Wi-Fi dipped a couple times during peak hours, and if you’re a light sleeper, the occasional scooter buzzing down the alley could wake you. But honestly, those minor gripes fade when you’re sipping coffee there, watching the city wake up.

All in all, if you’re heading to Verona – especially in shoulder season like spring or fall when the crowds thin out and the air smells of blooming wisteria – Rio Fiol is a smart pick. It’s got that 4-star polish without feeling stuffy, and being smack in the centre means you’re immersed in the real deal: dodging bikes on Via Stella, grabbing pizza slices from hidden spots locals love, or just wandering to the Adige River for a sunset walk. I left feeling like I’d actually lived a slice of Verona life, not just visited. If that’s what you’re after, book it – you won’t regret it. (Word count: 428)

Reviews

• Gil from Israel – 3 August 2024 (9/10)

  The appointment was very comfortable and clean. The host was very nice and welcomed us. The location is perfect. A few minutes walk to all the attractions.
  
  What could be improved: The apartment is in the restricted area, so it is not possible to get there by car.

• Bryan from Italy – 3 December 2024 (9/10)

  Great location, walkable to many bars, restaurants, etc.

• Sinead from United Kingdom – 9 October 2024 (9/10)

  Very central, quiet location
  Shop close by
  
  20 minute walk to Train station
  
  What could be improved: Not being able to leave bags in earlier as we arrived at 10:30am
  Checkin wasn’t till 3:30
  But they emailed us and we checked in at 2pm
  Which was very helpful
  
  Everything else was great

• Adam from United Kingdom – 8 October 2024 (9/10)

  The location is excellent. Right in the middle of the city and really easy to get to the train station to travel to other places (we went to Venice, Bologna, Trento and Lake Garda). The bus service is comprehensive and frequent with the main stop in the centre about 5 minutes walk away. It was also very quiet, which is unusual for a city centre location. The apartment is very secure, and it had everything we needed for a week+ stay. Cooking facilities are great and provided us with everything we needed. The rooms are very clean, spacious, comfortable and well lit, but also have shutters for the evening which was important for us as we have children used to sleeping in the dark. The apartment has two bedrooms with a large double in the master bedroom, plus two beds end to end along one wall in the other room. WiFi coverage is excellent which was less of an issue for us. as cell data for us is included in our plan and coverage is excellent everywhere. For food & drink, there is also a supermarket 2 minutes from the apartment, which is extremely well stocked and convenient.
  
  What could be improved: I am being really picky here but our only issue was that the room that our children stayed in does not have air conditioning in, which was a potential problem as we were staying in August. This was easily solved by leaving the door open to the lounge and making sure the shutters were closed. This really was not a big issue though and we would happily stay here again.

• Bazzardo from United Kingdom – 29 July 2024 (9/10)

  Amazing location, 2 mins from the Arena
  
  What could be improved: No washing machine

• Sean from New Zealand – 18 July 2024 (9/10)

  Central location, spacious and light. Well equipped kitchen. Met at the property by host. Comfortable bedding, Two sets of keys.

• John from United Kingdom – 9 July 2024 (9/10)

  Location is amazing.
  Air con.

• Jayne from United Kingdom – 11 June 2024 (8/10)

  Location was excellent and just a five minute walk from the arena and the centre of town where there were numerous restaurants. Everything we needed for a very short stay although getting our bags up the stairs would have been interesting if our very kind host had not offered to assist us! It's top floor with no lift so be warned!
  
  What could be improved: Only one bathroom but we managed. Well equipped little kitchenette and the sofa bed in the living space was actually really comfortable

• Ana from Portugal – 20 May 2024 (9/10)

  Excelent accomodation! Very nice location and clean. The apartment managers were very friendly and adjusted their schedule to our needs. Strongly recommend.

• Nikola from Serbia – 31 March 2024 (9/10)

  Beautiful and cozy.
  Very near to city center

SURROUNDINGS

Facilities