The Grand Hotel Continental, which opened in February 2002, is the
first 5 star deluxe hotel in Siena city centre.
A faithful restoration, of the 17th century palace designed by the Baroque
architect Giovanni Fontana, has not only given the hotel back to its original
architectural features, but has also brought to light old decorations and
magnificent frescoes from the 15th century and ornamental motifs from the 1800.
HistoryPope Alexander VII had Palazzo Gori Pannilini built in the 17th
century, probably to plans by the architect Carlo Fontana, for his niece
Olimpia on the occasion of her marriage to Giulio de’ Gori. The 16th-century
villa once owned by this nobleman’s family as their country residence now
houses the Park Hotel Siena, again belonging to the Royal Demeure chain.
The palazzo was converted early in the 20th century into an elegant hotel called
the Continental, whose guests included the most celebrated figures of the
period, but closed down in the 1990s. A plaque commemorates the visit paid by
Queen Margaret of Savoy in 1904, accompanied by Prince Thomas, the Duke
of Genoa, and all the court, on the occasion of an exhibition of early
Sienese art; these days George Clooney, Misha Burton, Dino De Laurentiis choose
the Grand Hotel Continental.