This is our story.
La Locanda San Bernardo was launched back in 2011 when Marco, after a successful career in the IT industry of more than 40 years, decided to try something new by jumping into the world of hospitality.
Marco’s vision was to offer a special experience in the heart of Vigevano’s renowned historical centre to people visiting the city for business or pleasure.
He chose to do this by transforming his childhood home − a historical but slightly neglected townhouse with a beautiful courtyard − into a modern, elegant and comfortable residence that would make future guests feel at home.
However, developing this project took huge amounts of time, effort and research and was far from straight forward as the Inn had once housed several families who lived in various parts of the building overlooking the courtyard. The building was therefore divided into a complicated patchwork of separate units that needed to be united as one single property.
As a centuries-old building, the required renovation and modernisation works were extensive and challenging. However, the key goal we remained focused on was to ensure that the rooms and common areas preserved and authentically portrayed their historical character.
The features and many pieces of furniture that had inhabited the apartments were restored and given their special place in the building once again. For example, the rooms feature collections of illustrations created by Marco’s aunt, Emilietta, who had a passion for drawing; and in the breakfast room, the buffet is served on Marco’s great-grandmother Marianna’s marble table; meanwhile the coffee and spice grinders, the counter and all the products that were sold in Marco’s great-grandfather Ettore’s grocery store give guests the impression that they are briefly stepping back in time to a more gentle age in history. Over the years, these carefully planned details have allowed guests to enjoy a unique experience in a place where they can feel at home and be pampered within a charming and unique atmosphere.
By 2020, after almost 10 years at the helm of the Locanda, Marco decided to step back from thebusiness to enjoy a well-deserved retirement devoted to his lifelong passion: golf!
And this is where I stepped in as Marco’s youngest daughter, Arianna.
At 28 years’ old, after a fantastic 4 years in the inspiring world of artisan gelato making, my father handed me the reigns; and I have been managing the Locanda ever since.
Having always enjoyed dealing with face-to-face with a diverse range of clients in my ice-cream business, it was natural for me to want to continue to build genuine relationships with our loyal customers here at the Locanda. Although taking the helm of such a successful business often seemed quite daunting, it’s now almost three years that I have been dedicated to the well-being of our guests to ensure that they always feel right at home; and I remain ever passionate about managing the Locanda, along with its precious history and the importance it represents to our family and community.

Click here to download the full guide in PDF

Your arrival

Once you receive the link and code to activate your Sclack key, you’ll be able to enter the facility and park inside the courtyard. Please try to park in the spaces furthest to the right-hand side as you drive into the courtyard as this will ensure ease of parking and exit for other guests.

A sample photo is inside the pdf guide.

° The rooms can be reached using the stairs or elevator and signs are displayed throughout the facility to help find your way around the property.

It’s a short walk to the secure bicycle storage room, which remains available to our guests at all times.

Our rooms

• Rooms at the Inn are numbered and we’ll let you know before your arrival which room you’ve been allocated.

• Hot/cold air conditioning is centralised and automatic but you can adjust the temperature to your preferred level using the buttons on the thermostat in your room.

• Please do not bring any food into the rooms.

Breakfast

• Breakfast is served from 8 to 9:30am on the ground floor and can be reached by following the smell of freshly baked croissants and coffee.

• Plain croissants and fruit jams, cakes, yogurt, fresh fruit salad, ham, cheese and toast are accompanied by cappuccinos and other coffees made using a traditional mocha percolator.

• If you’d like to add two hard-boiled eggs to your breakfast (for an extra charge of EUR 5) please let us know when you check in by calling or sending us a message on our WhatsApp no.: +39 320 335 2492.

• If you plan to start your day a little earlier, we can serve you breakfast from 7:30 am if you let us know when you check in or complete your booking.

 The lift

You can use the Locanda’s elevator by following these simple steps:

1) Push the green button for 2 seconds to open the door or call the elevator to the floor you’re on.

2) Once inside, make sure you stand in the center of the cabin and avoid touching the glass walls because the elevator stops if you touch their surfaces for safety reasons.

3) Push and hold down the button for the floor you want to reach until you have arrived (e.g., 0, 1 or 2).

4) When you have descended to the ground floor (“0”), the button that opens the door to the courtyard has the following symbol: “<l>”. This is placed below the button for the number “0”.

CAUTION:

If the elevator stops during its ascent or descent, ensure that you haven’t taken your finger off the floor button or touched the glass sides. If have touched the sides, make sure you are no longer touching the sides and hold down the floor button again.

Bicycles box

• When you enter the courtyard, you’ll see signs directing you to the storage room in which you can securely store your bicycles overnight
• A set of tools and pedestals are available to allow you to carry out any maintenance on your bicycle

To exit

• To exit the courtyard look for the two buttons just before the gate: one for pedestrians and the other for vehicle drivers.

• Simply press either button once and wait for it to open.

Click here to download the full guide in PDF

Click to download the full guide in PDF

The Ducal Square and the Sforzesco Castle

• The Piazza Ducale is only a three-minute walk from the Inn. Take a right when you exit the gate and then follow the road along via Dante before taking the small side-street called via Caduti per la Liberazione. Once you reach the end of this street, you’ll likely be taken aback as you find yourself in one of the most beautiful squares in Europe!
• From the Piazza Ducale, you can get to the castle (Castello Sforzesco) by ascending a flight of steps or following via del Popolo just off the square. Halfway up these stairs is the Vigevano InfoPoint, which will support you with all your requests.
• The InfoPoint organises guided tours of the castle on Sundays and public holidays for EUR 10/person during the following times:
  10:30−11:50am and 2:00−3:30pm
• To book a tour or request further information and prices, you can email them directly at: infopointcastello@comune.vigevano.pv.it
• The castle is also open during the spring−summer seasons between Tuesday and Friday from 9am to 7pm. On Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, the castle closes at 8pm.
  On special occasions such as evening events, it remains open for longer with free admission or an event fee.

The Bramante tower and the Civic Museums

• The piazza and the castle are not the only sights in the historic centre: the Bramante Tower soars over the city and the civic museums are housed in the castle’s interior spaces.
• You can also reach the second floor of the tower to observe the square and the cathedral from above

You can purchase tickets for the tower and museums at the Infopoint. Prices are inside the pdf guide

During the week

• If you’re visiting Vigevano during the week, you can request a private guided tour by contacting Vigevano Promotions directly using the following contact information: +39 351 878 2734 – info@vigevanopromotions.it

Restaurants in the area

APERITIVO TIME

•  Teeria Passaggi di Tempo, via Caduti per la Liberazione: unique atmosphere, drinks and freshly prepared
  aperitivo snacks. Open every day of the week except Mondays
• Metodo Froma, via Trivulzio: friendly atmosphere, amazing array of local products and a refined wine selection. Open every day of the week except Tuesdays
• Caffè Commercio, Piazza Ducale: sophisticated and charming with an excellent drinks menu. Open every day of the week except Mondays
• Roastery by Port Moka, via Dante: the specialty here is coffee and its roasting methods, but they also prepare great aperitivos. Open every day of the week except Mondays

DINNER

• Dispensa Bramante: Italian cuisine and pizza. Open every day of the week except Tuesdays
• La Drogheria, via Merula: classic risottos and first courses are served here. Open every day of the week except Tuesdays
• Osteria Vigevanese, via Roma: traditional dishes with the option of a set menu. Open every day of the week except Mondays
• Il Toscanaccio, Corso della Repubblica: informal atmosphere, typical Tuscan cuisine and exceptional meat dishes. Open every day of the week except Mondays
• Trattoria Podazzera, Corso Milano: local dishes, can only be reached by car. Open every day of the week except Sunday
• Trattoria da Carla, in Gambolò: local dishes, can only be reached by car

Pizzeria

• Rinascimento, Piazza Ducale: you can also order typical Italian first and second courses of meat and fish
• Rococò, Piazza Ducale: classic pizzeria Open every day of the week except Mondays
• Bella Napoli, Corso Milano: typical Neapolitan pizza. Can be reached by car. Open every day of the week except Wednesdays

AFTER DINNER

• Teeria Passaggi di Tempo: hand-picked whiskey selection and an expansive cocktail menu
• Cafe Commercio: bitters and a range of tempting drinks serve

Click to download the full guide in PDF