With an incredible choice of places to stay in Florence, we hope to bring you just a small selection of these on the Florence Italy Hotel blog, with the aim to provide a simple and comprehensive overview of some of the notable places to stay in the city.
Relais di Lorenzo
The term “Relais” is a little bit of a mystery. It is not an official hotel classification in the same way that the hotel one to five category star rating is applied. Essentially the Relais name is used by accommodation providers as a commercial classification to market their property. Sometimes you can also find a Relais Hotel, but in these cases the owner should also have an official hotel star categorization, and is probably using the name Relais by choice, to position the hotel among people that just go looking for Relais accommodation. Confused? Don’t be, if you’re English a Relais is a bit like a guest house and if you’re not, the key message is that at a Relais you are likely find the same services you’d find in a hotel, but at a much lower price!
With that said, here’s our first Relais: The Relais di Lorenzo is housed inside an historic villa of the second half of the 19th century. Its location near the Fortezza da Basso, puts the hotel in a quiet neighbourhood which, while away from the main historic centre, is not so far as to make you feel out of Florence city. In fact, a leisurely 10-15 minute walk will bring you up close with the impressive Duomo.
The Private Garden Suite
There are a series of junior and themed suites which combine the traditional charm of Florentine style, with modern comforts – a mix of old and new, beautifully presented. What is different about the Relais is the fact that it offers a range of beauty and therapeutic treatments that you can enjoy during your stay.
What they say…
Booking.com
- Good Location and the availability of free bicycles to travel around in Florence.
- great rooms, almost too big for one person, conveniently located near the exhibition ground.
TripAdvisor
- I stayed for 1 night in a splendid double rooms which had 5 different areas and was stylishly decorated and had many comforts, including an espresso coffee machine, air-conditioning, and in-room hydro-massage. Very big breakfast and very friendly staff (translated).
Bedrooms at the Relais di Lorenzo are exquisitely presented
Rooms
The Relais di Lorenzo really gives hotels in Florence a run for their money, there’s a lovely quality and finish to the rooms, and the themed rooms really give you option to add some glamour to your stay in Florence.
Garden Suite
The Garden Suite features a private courtyard all your own. Secluded and tucked away the suite itself features a modern four-poster bed which is beautifully finished. There are also a choice of 16 types of pillow to ensure a comfortable sleep! Where some hotels give you a kettle, the Relais di Lorenzo provides espresso coffee machines, a mini-bar, microwave and all standard features of a hotel, such as an in-room safe, satellite tv, free wifi. The bathroom is finished in marble and guests in this suite can access easily the wellness centre that is open 24 hours a day where the Jacuzzi pool, hydro-massage and turkish baths are at your disposal.
Fireplace Suite
The main feature of this suite is an elegant French fireplace dating back to 1800. The suite is beautifully finished with a super elegant ceiling and fittings to the highest standard. Rooms come with the same level of in-room services as found in the garden suite and there is easy access to the Wellness centre.
Scenes from the Fireplace Suite
Whirlpool Suite
Frescoes on the ceiling, a 4-poster bed with drapes, and a classic and yet modern finish is what defines the whirlpool suite, all finished in white. Of course, there is also a private whirlpool!! Guests can also expect to find the pillow menu and its 16 flavours available for guests perusal to guarantee a restful sleep.
Double Comfort Room
The Double Comfort room is a large room of twenty-five metres squared and is the ideal solution for guests needing a bit of extra space. This room features a queen size bed, vaulted ceiling and a panoramic shower.
Junior Suite
The Junior Suite are for those guests that like to have a little more space that a double room. The beds are king-size and the rooms have frescoed ceilings.
Location
Just like the four star hotel Lorenzo il Magnifico the Relais di Lorenzo is on the outskirts of Florence. It’s still within walking distance of the city, and there are regular buses that will take you into town in less than 5 minutes. The area is nice as it is essentially residential [read, no loud noises as you'll find in the centre as people go our to enjoy themselves in the summer months]. Nearby to the Fortezza, if you’re coming for business or looking to attend one of the annual crafts festivals, such as the Mostra Internazionale dell’Artigianato, you can reach the main display halls in 2 minutes by foot.
Another benefit of staying out of town is parking. While the whole of Florence is tightly controlled by parking zones that rival those found in London, the Relais does provide guests with their own private parking for free ( a saving of up to Euro 30 a day) The hotel is easily reached from the main motorway, the A1, or from the main airport if you’re picking up a hire car.
The Relais provides free bicycles for its guests, and this is by far the most enjoyable way anyone can explore Florence. The city of Florence is also being transformed slowly into a series of bicycle priority lanes and, as the centre of town has a restricted access, you can really enjoy Florence in this way.
Promotions
- Book 3 weeks in Advance for a 10% discount
More information here - Book directly through the website for 5% discount
More information here - Family Promotion, children up to 17 year’s of age stay for free
More information here - Stay for 6 nights and get one free
More information here - 5% off if you Stay for more than 2 nights
More information here
The Relais di Lorenzo is a guest house of a superior standard. Guests can expect for find comfort and attention to detail in any of the rooms, and a location which places it in a tucked away part of Florence. Easy to reach if you’re arriving by car, but equally accessible if you’re arriving by train, this is a special kind of Guest house, to be discovered and enjoyed. Think of it as you own personal villa in Florence. For more information about the Relais di Lorenzo, please visit their website.
