Firenze Suite

Firenze Suite is housed on the ground floor of a historic building in central Florence. Guests enter through a simple wooden door from the cobblestone street outside, leading to a narrow hallway decorated with paintings of the Tuscan countryside. The lobby has terra cotta-tile floors and natural light filtering through an atrium. The richly detailed space establishes the property's contemporary-meets-traditional style. Though the hotel has many historic elements, it is thoroughly modernized and in good condition. Original vaulted ceilings are painted with decorative patterns, countryside scenes, and crests, lending a slightly kitschy feel. A non-working fireplace is surrounded by chocolate-brown leather sofas and chairs in the library area, where a shelf is lined with books for guests' perusal. Antique wooden furniture, ornate vases, and striking statues also decorate these common areas. With its intimate size and friendly proprietors, Firenze Suite has the feel of a bed-and-breakfast and tends to attract couples, who like the romantic atmosphere and location a short walk from the Duomo and other sights. 

Firenze Suite offers its guests a superb location in central Florence, in a neighborhood with several shops, restaurants, cafes, and bars. The hotel is about a 10-minute walk east of the Piazza del Duomo and the famous Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore (the Duomo) and Giotto's Bell Tower. The Galleria dell'Accademia, home to Michelangelo's "David," is an eight-minute walk from the hotel. The burial place of Michelangelo and Galileo -- the Basilica of Santa Croce -- is an eight-minute walk away. The Uffizi Gallery, which holds Botticelli's "Venus," is about a 12-minute bus ride or walk, while the Ponte Vecchio takes 15 minutes to reach by bus or foot. For transportation options, Santa Maria Novella train station is about 20 minutes' walk or a 15- to 20-minute drive from the hotel. From Florence Airport, Peretola, the drive to the hotel is about 25 to 40 minutes, depending on traffic. 

Situated on the ground floor, the seven rooms at Firenze Suite are spacious suites with high vaulted ceilings. All suites are individually named and decorated with corresponding art objects, wall art, and ceiling frescoes depicting different themes like music, seashells, cherubs, stars, lilies, lemon trees, the Tuscan countryside, and the Florentine coat of arms. The color palette varies, but hues of gold, pink, and reddish-brown predominate. Some suites have good views of the city and surrounding countryside, but others lack much in the way of windows and get poor natural light. With the exception of one of the suites, units have wooden cabinets that open to kitchenettes with sinks, two-burner stovetops, minibars, silverware, and tableware. Tea and kettles are provided, but there are no coffeemakers. Most suites have cozy sitting areas furnished with sofas and writing desks, and one has a spiral staircase leading to a mezzanine. Two of the suites share a walled-in private garden with wrought-iron furniture beside a leafy tree. The flat-screen TVs in each unit have English and satellite channels, and all rooms are air-conditioned and include safes and free Wi-Fi. Bathrooms continue the look of the main body of the room, with frescoed ceilings. They're all clean, well lighted, and spacious, though sinks are narrow and there isn't much in the way of counter space. Some bathrooms do not have bathtubs and instead have spacious showers (by European hotel standards). Suites are all non-smoking.

As a very small hotel, Firenze Suite has very few facilities, with no fitness center or full restaurant. The hotel's signature amenity is a free breakfast delivered to the room, or taken in the courtyard in warmer months. Guests can order from a menu that includes boiled and scrambled eggs, grilled ham-and-cheese sandwiches, toast with butter and jam, croissants, yogurt, fruit, coffee, tea, and hot chocolate. No other meals are served on-site. Firenze Suite also has a public computer, though Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel. The hotel also provides concierge services for things like museum tickets. Public parking is available nearby for a fee.