Ostello Internazionale Pierantoni Hostel

Being an old monastery and now youth hostel owned by the city of Foligno, this was the best hostel we have seen on our Inter Rail trip. The rooms are cheap, clean and often they have their own bathroom. It's quiet and 5 minutes away from the city center by walking (Foligno is a very small city) The garden is perfect for reading and relaxing. There are fruit trees all over and frescoes on the wall. Free breakfast includes fruit juice and cereals (next to the standard bread, jam, croissant, tea and coffee).

It took us over an hour to find this hostel (it was advertised as being 5 min. from the train station!)Leave the station and head toward the ARCH via Ottaviani, after passing under the arch the street is called via Umberto. At the piazza (this should only take about 3 - 4 min. after leaving the train station) take a right on via Garibaldi, walk for about a minute and keep looking to the left for a very small alley street=via Pierantoni. At the time we were there it was completely covered in scaffolding and unidentifiable. Enter the narrow walkway and the hostel is at the end of the lane. The alley will then dead end. Hopefully these instructions will prevent future backpackers from spending an hour in the rain looking for it. The staff was welcoming and accomadating. We were there in November and got a dorm room with 4 beds and our own bathroom for 16 E each. We didn't have a card, but this was no problem. Breakfast was served in a room downstairs and was better than average--choice of hot chocolate, coffee, tea, milk, juice from containers that kept the drinks either cold or hot. Choice of breads and cold cereal. There was no big rush or wild food scramble that you hear about in some hostels. Also be aware that the town offers bus service to some of the surrounding hill towns. The bus station is close to the train station--but located at a gas station/bar. At first you aren't sure it IS a bus station, but look behind the building and there are bus bays and usually some activity identifying it. Overall, there is nothing to do in Foligno, but it can be a base upon which to launch daytrips to Spoleto, Spello, Trevi, and Montefalco.