Hotel Fiorita

The Hotel Fiorita is a typical budget property in Florence that occupies part of an early 20th-century building. A charming, old-fashioned, gated elevator takes guests to the third floor, where the Hotel Fiorita’s lobby is located. There isn't much in the way of public space in the hotel, besides the homey breakfast room upstairs, which doesn't beg for long, relaxing book-reading sessions. While the guest rooms are accessible by elevator, the breakfast lounge is not, so guests must walk a flight and a half up stairs for breakfast service. Steps are marked with calorie counters to encourage guests the way. Overall, the hotel is clean and pleasant, but interiors are plain and bland in design, and guests here run the gamut from couples and families to budget-minded solo travelers. 

The hotel is centrally located on the highly-trafficked Via Fiume that’s one block from the Santa Maria Novella train station. There are several casual restaurants in the immediate area and more dining options can be found at the San Lorenzo Market, which is packed with all sorts of vendors and about eight minutes from the hotel on foot. The city center and many of its top sights are a short walk away; the Galleria dell'Accademia, where Michelangelo's famous David statue resides, is 13 minutes away on foot; the Duomo can be reached in 10 minutes; and the Uffizi Gallery, Palazzo Vecchio, and Ponte Vecchio bridge are about a 15-minute walk from the hotel. It’s a 15 to 30-minute bus ride across the Arno River to the Piazzale Michelangelo and Boboli Gardens. Pisa can be reached in an hour-and-a-half by car, while the Florence Airport is 15 minutes away from the hotel by bus or taxi.

There’s nothing fancy about the traditional and modest guest rooms, which feature tall ceilings, light wooden furniture, rose-colored textiles, and scenic artwork hung on walls. Interiors are well-maintained and clean, but undeniably outdated (think: wallpaper borders). There are two types of rooms available -- Classic and Economy -- which range from singles to quadruples. The most affordable option -- Single Rooms -- are available with en-suite bathrooms that include showers and sinks, though private toilets outside of the guest room. All rooms have wardrobe closets, flat-screen TVs, free Wi-Fi, air-conditioning, safes, and mini-fridges stocked with bottled water. Some room have balconies that overlook the Duomo, but most rooms face the street or courtyard. Private bathrooms in higher category bookings have floor-to-ceiling tiles, bidets, heated towel racks, hairdryers, and small showers. Antique wooden window frames and decorative floor tiles add an atmospheric touch to some rooms. While there are nice views from street-facing rooms, some of them can be noisy from traffic outside.

The Hotel Fiorita’s narrow breakfast lounge is furnished with casual tables and chairs placed against the walls and a self-service breakfast bar with a cappuccino machine and snacks that are available 24/7. The breakfast buffet is free and includes hot and cold options like eggs, pastries, cereal, juice, sausages, and more. Coffee and snacks are available all day long. For a nominal fee, guests can use a computer and printer in the hotel’s lobby. The friendly staff can also help with sightseeing information and reservations for tours, and the hotel's front desk is staffed 24 hours a day. Wi-Fi access is free of charge in all rooms and the hotel has plans to soon upgrade the Internet speed and offer loaner tablet computers to guests. The hotel is also pet friendly.