Homey, comfortable atmosphere in a good tourist location
Free continental breakfast buffet with fresh coffee made to order
Family-run hotel with friendly, individual service
Within walking distance to most of the major attractions
Family rooms available
Pets allowed
Room service
Little common space within the hotel
Many rooms lack scenic city views
20-minute walk from Duomo and historic center of the city
Wi-Fi can be unreliable
The 19-room Hotel Giglio is a mid-range hotel with a cozy bed and breakfast feel. Guests climb into a tiny wood elevator to the reach this first floor property, set in a centuries' old former palace, within walking distance from the Duomo, Uffizi Museum, Ponte Vecchio, and other historic attractions. The Giglio is family-run, and the lobby feels like a relaxed living room, with a bar, TV, and huge DVD stash. There are few common spaces, but the rooms are simple, clean, and spacious.
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Scene
Cozy, warm, and friendly family-run hotel
The Hotel Giglio is reached via a tiny wood elevator or the building's marble and wrought iron stairway, but once the etched glass doors are opened and guests enter, there is a warm, welcoming atmosphere. The few common areas are relaxed and comfy, with the front desk and bar sharing the same counter, and a cushy seating area with a large flat-screen TV and a bookcase full of travel guides and DVDs for guests to borrow. The small breakfast lounge is charming, with a checkerboard floor, and green and white tablecloths with striped table skirts that make the room feel cheery. Overall the vibe is friendly and warm, with a focus on service.
Location
In central Florence, close to all the major historic attractions
The Hotel Giglio is located on the Via Cavour, one of Florence's major streets, which is closed to general traffic in the area, allowing only buses, taxis, and residents access by automobile. The train station is nearby, and, for drivers, the hotel has arrangements with several nearby parking garages. It is a 10- to 15-minute walk to the Duomo, Uffizzi Museum, and Ponte Vecchio, as well as many other famed Florentine monuments, cafes, and restaurants.
Rooms
Clean and soundproofed rooms, with high ceilings and parquet floors
Rooms at the Hotel Giglio are basic and tidy, with simple decor and high ceilings that speak of the building's long history. Each room is differently configured, and some have tiny (but adequate) bathrooms. Floors are parquet or terra cotta tile. The soundproofing is excellent, and the air-conditioning works well. Wi-Fi can be spotty. Rooms are nothing too fancy, but there are large flat-screen TVs with DVD players and big beds. Guests praise Room A, which is reached via private staircase and has a bathtub.
Features
Lobby bar, free breakfast, library, and DVDs
The Hotel Giglio has a low-key lobby bar with an espresso machine, not a pod coffeemaker. By the front desk is a large library of DVD that guests can borrow to view in their rooms or watch on the large lobby flat-screen. A free continental breakfast is served each morning, with fresh-brewed coffee and cappuccino. Valet parking is available at several nearby garages, through arrangement with the front desk. This is not a hotel with umpteen amenities, but rather a charming, friendly, service-oriented resting place from which to explore Florence.
