Immerse yourself in Florence’s History

The Hotel Axial forms part of a tris of hotels (see also the Hotel Casci, and Hotel Perseo) right in the centre of Florence. Arguably though the Axial’s position is the better of the three simply because it is found in the wholly pedestrianized area of the historic centre, in Via dei Calzaiuoli, that runs from the Duomo to Piazza della Signoria. Your location puts you in the perfect position to reach all the main historic sites with complete ease.

TripAdvisor’s places the hotel in position 37 of all the hotels in Florence, while previous guests have commented….

• “Best value for money and excellent service, highly recommended”
• “Great service, clean hotel and in an excellent locations!!!”
• “Loved the location and the people working at the hotel were very friendly. Rooms were very clean as well. Would definitely stay at Hotel Axial if we travel to Florence again.”
• “This is one of the most central and quiet places you can find in Florence, close to everything (2mn from Duomo, 4mn from Palazzo Vecchio). This means that you can actually drop by again and again, if you want to rest, use the bathroom, drop you latest shopping item….”

Bedrooom at the Hotel Axial

Rooms
The rooms in the Hotel Axial have been recently refurbished in a classical style. The floors are have a typical Tuscan, style finish while furnitures are modern and elegant. Seasoned three star travelers will take this decor for granted and part and parcel of hotels in this category. A three star hotel gives you a good relationship between quality, price and comfort. In the Hotel Axial’s case, you also get a room in location that some of the 5 star hotel’s can’t even offer! Despite being in a pedestrianized part of town, there are still things that can disrupt your sleep, for example when the rubbish collectors come in the morning, but not at the Axial, where all the windows are double glazed, for added restful sleeps. Satellite TV, free wifi, an electronic safe and en-suite bathrooms are all standard at the Hotel Axial too.

Breakfast Room at the Hotel Axial

Guest services
Guests can expect to find a buffet style breakfast every morning greeting them from the hours of 0730 through to 1000. For those planning to hit the town, the hotel also offers a booking service for restaurants and museums as well as guided tours in and outside of Florence. As the day heats up, there’s refuge at the hotel which has recently had it’s air-conditioning completely updated, so whether you’re in your room or one of the common areas, you’ll find fresh air always to nearby. An internal courtyard also provides a place where guests can enjoy a drink in the early evening or spread out the maps and have the staff help in the planning process. Other guest services include: free city maps, a wakeup service, late checkout, electronic safe, bar, international newspapers and baggage storage. As mentioned before, all the things you expect to find at a three star hotel, and the reason why the three star is one of the popular hotel categories for the price conscious.

Reading room at the Hotel Axial

Location
The hotel is located on Via Calzaiuoli in Florence, the street (pedestrianized) that runs from Piazza del Duomo to Piazza della Signoria. From the main train station, Santa Maria Novella, it will take 10 minutes to walk, but if it’s late June, July or August, consider the taxi option which will take just as long, but you’ll be shielded from the Florentine humidity and heat. The centre of Florence has some pretty heavy restrictions for access. So, if you are arriving by car you need to make sure that as soon as you arrive at the hotel, you provide your car registration details so they can be filed with the local council. The hotel has an arrangement with a local car park in the centre of town and it will cost between €25 and €30 a day (24-hours). Generally, as most recommend, if you’re coming to Florence, you don’t need a car for the centre of town as you can reach all the monuments by foot. As the Hotel Axial is in such a great position, you can even stop in for coffee, or drop off a bag and go back out shopping.  Now that is convenient! View the location on Google maps

Promotions

• Book directly through the hotel website for a 5% discount.
  More information here
• Stay more than 5 nights and you’ll get a 10% discount.
  More information here
• All other promotions.
  More information here

So, if you’re looking for a hotel right in the centre of town, in an amazing location and perfect for exploring the main tourist sites, the Hotel Axial could be the right choice for you. For more information, please visit their website.

Hotel Perseo, a room with a view over the Duomo

Hotel Perseo looks over the Duomo

If you’re looking for a 3 star hotel right in the middle of town – looking out onto the Battistero and with the Duomo greeting you in all its splendour and glory, then the Hotel Perseo could be for you.

TripAdvisor puts the hotel, position eight out of two-hundred and fifty three. That’s one higher than Villa Antea’s position nine, even if they are markedly different accommodation types.

Some more comments from Trip Advisor

• “…rooms were up-to-date and very clean; the location of the hotel was ideal (the Duomo was essentially out the front door and the rest of Florence was easily reachable with a short walk”
• “Ideal Location, Personal Service”
• “This is a fantastic hotel. I have traveled all over the world and it is the first hotel which, I feel, is perfect in all respects. The rooms are large, modern and quiet despite being in the very centre of Florence (it is about 3min walk from the Duomo!). It truly has a family feel…”

Location
The Hotel Perseo describes itself as an oasis in the heart of the Florentine hustle and bustle. It’s a very simple three star hotel that prizes itself on its location. It can be reached by foot from the main train station in 5 minutes. But some guests can miss the hotel, despite being directly underneath it because the reception is actually on the 3rd floor of the hotel’s building. So, keep your eyes high in Piazza Duomo so as to not miss the hotel’s signage.[See the Hotel Perseo on Google Maps ].

Simple, clean and uncluttered rooms at the Hotel Perseo

Rooms
The hotel itself comprises twenty simple and cleanly finished rooms. You are not paying for the most luxurious accommodation in town, you’re paying for the location, just like the Hotel Casci. In each room guests can expect to find a direct dial telephone, as well as individually controlled air-conditioning (and heating). An electronic safe for storing any valuables in your rooms during the day, as well as a TV/Satellite and a Broadband Internet connection. The rooms all come with en-suite bathrooms, and comfortable queen and king size beds are available.

Hotel Services
The hotel reception is always staffed, so you will find support and assistance at whatever time of the day or night you need it. If you’re looking to explore the historic sites of Florence, the hotel provides a museum reservation service (this can help dramatically with places such as the Uffizi Gallery). Equally, if you’re interested in the arts, during the summer months Florence has a wide range of open air concerts and exhibitions, and these can be booked for your by the hotel staff. The centre of town has a wide range of places to eat and enjoy fine Tuscany food, the staff at the hotel will be happy to steer you towards the best places to eat. Finally, international newspapers are delivered daily, should you wish to re-connect with the outside World. But seriously why would you, you’re on holiday in the place that defines the Renaissance movement in Italy, just ignore the news for a couple of weeks!

Promotions

• Book more than 3 nights and get a free tour of the Uffizi Gallery or the Accademia (where you will find the original work “Davide” by Michelangelo).
  More Information here
• Book a double rooms for more than 4 nights and get a free trip to Siena, Chianti, and San Gimignano.
  More Information here
• Special Internet only rates, available by direct booking online.
  More Information here

The Hotel Perseo is an extremely valid option for visitors that tackly the Florentine monuments head on. A short walk from the main train station makes this the ideal hotel for first time visitors on a budget. You can visit their website here.

4 star hotel in Florence – Magnifico!!

Lorenzo Il Magnifico

A Neo-Renaissance villa provides the setting for the Lorenzo il Magnifico, a four star hotel within easy reach of Florence. Historically a boarding school for wealthy girls, the hotel to this day, retains the classic elegance of a bygone period. It’s one of the few hotels we’ve featured so far that has a private car park, ideal for those people that are going to be arriving by car in Florence, and not the mainline train station. Here are some past comments of the guests of the hotel from Trip Advisor,

• “The hotel itself had the most beautiful high ceilings and had clean, plush furnishings”
• “This is a charming and comfortable hotel in Florence, with excellent deals for bookings in advance”
• “Rooms excellent, bath is modern, jacuzzi tub and separate shower, mini bar, outdoor patio, private parking, outstanding breakfast and excellent staff”

Breakfast at Lorenzo il Magnifico

Location
The Lorenzo il Magnifico is just 15 minutes on foot from the centre of Florence, and if you’re not happy with walking, both public transport and taxi’s will whisk you to the centre in 5 minutes. In the immediate vicinity of the hotel, guests will find restaurants that the hotel has a special arrangement with [read: you eat good food and avoid the tourist traps]. The spectacular Fortezza da Basso is nearby making the Lorenzo il Magnifico ideal if you intend to go to one of the many annual trade shows taking place at this Florentine conference hall. It is also a wonderful place to enjoy evening strolls and a beautiful water fountain, where you’ll find people enjoying the spectacle in the summer months.

An internal car park means that if you are arriving from outside Florence, you’ll find parking easy. This, in Florence is a definite plus, as there are very few public parking spaces, and then there is the weekly washings of the streets, which can catch even the most well-informed of of tourists out. [show position on Google maps]

Rooms
The hotel has thirty-six rooms divided into three room types: classic rooms, deluxe rooms and superior rooms. All the rooms have air-conditioning as well as Satellite TV, free wifi, and a mini bar in each of the rooms. There is also an in-room safe, and a direct dial phone line. Windows have also been soundproofed to add to your confort.

Bedroom at Lorenzo il Magnifico

Suites
If you’re looking to add something special to your stay at the Lorenzo il Magnifico, the two Royal suites combine the traditional Florentine charm with the modern technology found in the classic rooms. They are decorated with granite tiled floors and frescoes on the ceiling. One of these fabulous suites is also dispersed over two levels.

Promotions

• If you book directly through their website, you will receive a 10% discount on your booking, more information here
• Special Honeymoon package (April-September), more information here
• See all the special offers here

The Lorenzo Il Magnifico represents great value for money for those search for a 4 star hotel that is conveniently located near the centre, and for those that are arriving by car and need a hotel with its own parking.

Visit the website of Lorenzo il Magnifico to find out more about this hotel.

Bed and Breakfast Villa in Florence

Welcome to a luxury B&B!

The Relais Villa Antea is a luxury bed and breakfast villa in Florence. I repeat, a luxury bed and breakfast villa. It only has six rooms, so you can expect an exceptionally high level of service.

If you thought that b&b’s were places where just students or travellers kipped down for a cheap night as an alternativee to a hotel, it’s time to rewrite the rule book.

In Rome Gli Artisti is setting a new trend in contemporary stylish bed and breakfasts of a difference, while in Florence, the city of art and culture, Villa Antea provides a luxurious location from which to enjoy the best of Florence, without all the hotel pomp and cerimony. If you’re looking for a friendly, peaceful and unique lodging experience, this could be the villa for you.

Despite the fact that it is actually classified officially as a Relais, TripAdvisor have it in placed nine out of all the 553  hotels in Florence. That’s a clear indication that something is going very well for the guests!

Here are a few choice comments….

• “…we were looking for something authentic which offered uniqueness, charm and character. We found all 3 and more in Villa Antea.”
• “I must admit that I hesitate to write my review on the Villa Antea. Only because my girlfriend (now fiance’) and I had such an incredible time, that we want to keep it our little secret.”
• “We had an amazing time at villa antea, it’s a really beautiful place to stay and the perfect location from which to explore Florence”

Breakfast at the Villa Antea

Location
Like the Soggiorno Stibbert the Villa Antea is a short walk from the centre of town. As said in other posts, this is a definate plus when visiting Florence for the first time. The centre of town is bella, wonderful and simply magical BUT in the summer months you might feel you are more in a theme park.

It is great to be able to get back to a you place away from the noise and commotion. Florence is a small town – by foot you can reach the centre of town in 15 minutes, or just take the bus, just a minutes walk from the Villa. If you’re visiting Florence for one of its annual trade shows, like the Artisan festival or Pitti Uomo, the Villa is perfectly positioned, just a few minutes walk from the main Fortezza da Basso. [show location on Google Maps]

Deluxe Bedrooms at the Villa Antea

Rooms

Offering six large double rooms each is decorated in a classical Tuscan style with silk tapestries, period paintings and antiques. If you have mobility problems, the ground floor bedroom has been specially fitted to allow guests easy access. The bathrooms are finished beautifully in Carrara marble and for the more English among travellers, the Junior Suite actually has a bath.

Promotions

• Stay for two or more nights in a Superior rooms and you’ll get free museum tickets.
  More information here
• Book through their website for 5-10% discount on the published price.
  More information here
• Last minute deal – If you’re coming to Florence in the next 6 days, you might be eligible for a 20% discount.
  More information here

The Villa Antea represents a unique, small and discreet villa, ideal for romantic short breaks to the very special city of Florence. Equally it is suited to those travelers seeking high quality style without all the commotion of the centre of town.  If you’d like to read more about the villa, please visit Villa Antea’s official website.

Welcome to Relais Villa Antea – Florence

Experience the intimacy of life in a turn of the century Florentine pied-a-terre. This luxuriously appointed Villa Antea was built in 1903 amid even older poplar and lime trees shading one of the cities most charming neighborhoods. Surrounded by antiques, precious tapestries and 21st centuries amenities – this is a truly unique and unforgettable place to spend a delightful holiday in Florence.

Like a luxury b&b relais, Villa Antea has an outside courtyard to have tea and cocktails when coming back from the charming atmospheres of the center of Florence.