It’s hard to imagine any European city with more iconic food, wine, art, and cultural attractions per capita than Bologna, Italy. Home of the world’s first university, Bologna is a place of higher learning in almost any discipline you can imagine. Behind every door and around every corner, the old world is displayed in vibrant living colors. Present-day Bologna is as important culturally as it was hundreds of years ago. It is an incubator of fine art, architecture, culinary innovation, the performing arts, and so much more. On today’s show, you’ll meet a Bologna native, arguably one of the most engaged and insightful Renaissance men or women we have ever featured. He is Robert Condello, a restauranteur, hotelier, and fine art dealer of the world’s most iconic masters, from Botticelli to Picasso. He’s also remarkably humble, pouring as much passion into iconic Bolognese dishes as he does finding the most suitable collectors to provide unparalleled care for priceless canvases, Today’s show was recorded at the Porta San Mamolo Hotel, which Roberto has managed and owned in partnership with family members for many years. This hotel is the perfect kind of place to stay when visiting Bologna. It's what we love on Grape Encounter. The hotel is just on the edge of the city's most important areas--in a wonderfully tranquil residential area--but it is a stone's throw from anything you could ever need or want. And if you want to hear the birds chirping, you can spend your entire day at this little garden paradise. And if you're hungry for the best food in Bologna, you can walk across the street to Roberto's restaurant, Antica Osteria Le Mura. This place is where Roberto has combined his passion for great food, wine, and incredible artwork. best of all, you can enjoy everything at a very comfortable price. Once German Military HQ Roberto has managed the hotel for 23 years and details the hotel’s strange history in this interview. Originally a church, it became an important German military headquarters during the war. In the 1960s, it became a hostel for families with children in the nearby hospital. In 2000, Roberto and his family acquired the property, added several rooms, making it one of the most charming hotels in the heart of the city. Today, he and his brother-in-law own this remarkably tranquil oasis and continue to make improvements that set it apart from conventional hotels. As you will hear, Roberto Condello is quite a preservationist who does all he can to ensure that Bologna remains one of Europe’s most extraordinary destinations. David adds this footnote: "I spent nearly a week enveloped by the splendor of this lovely property. Every morning, I would head down to the Orangerie, where I would savor my breakfast on the beautiful garden patio. There is a lovely woman who has worked for the hotel for many years who would literally have the most thoughtfully prepared cappuccino ready for me before I could even get settled in. By the second day, she had memorized everything I love at breakfast time. I want to be clear: I came as a normal pacing customer... not a comp. Every guest received equally remarkable care. She and the entire staff are a rarity in these times and I will return to this place as often as possible, to enjoy the care and conversations that set it apart from 99% of the places I have stayed on my journeys."
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