Historic 18th-century building converted into a refined hotel
Full-service spa with indoor hydromassage pool, sauna, and treatments
Located in a quiet town close to Florence and Siena
Comfortable, sophisticated rooms with luxury bathrooms
Free breakfast served daily
On-site restaurant serving Tuscan cuisine
Free on-site parking and free Wi-Fi throughout
Meeting and event room
Charge to use swimming pool
Not much within walking distance of hotel
Some guest rooms have an awkward layout
No fitness center
Once an 18th-century hospital, the four-pearl Palazzo San Lorenzo is now a refined, relaxing hotel that enhances its original space with contemporary touches. The 48 guest rooms are bright and sophisticated, with comfortable beds framed by leather headboards, separate seating areas, and luxurious bathrooms. The Palazzo has a full-service luxury spa with an indoor hydromassage pool, a sauna, rainfall showers, and various treatments. There's also a restaurant, a breakfast room, and a bar that is accessible to non-guests. The property is located in the quiet town of Colle Val D'Elsa, within driving distance of both Siena and Florence. Free Wi-Fi, breakfast, and parking along with low rates make the Palazzo San Lorenzo an excellent value -- though there is a pesky charge to use the swimming pool.
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Scene
Housed in an updated 18th-century building
Palazzo San Lorenzo is situated in an 18th-century building that was once the municipal hospital. Today, the decor is stylish and more contemporary than traditionally Tuscan. The lobby is elegant and feels formal, with beautiful crystal chandeliers, Persian rugs, high ceilings, marble columns, and gray velvet chairs. One of the side rooms has a flat-screen TV with multiple armchairs to relax in. The hotel is aimed at tourists (mostly couples), but can also work for business people who want a quiet, relaxing place to retire at night but need to be within a short drive from Siena and even Florence. It also has a meeting room for on-site business events.
Location
Located in the quiet town of Colle Val D'Elsa -- close to both Florence and Siena
The hotel is located on a charming, narrow street in the medieval-style town of Colle Val D'Elsa, a 10-minute walk from the Colle di Val d'Elsa Cathedral. The town -- which is situated between Florence and Siena -- is quiet and not at all touristy, but it's a great base for exploring nearby areas of Tuscany, as long as you have a car. Siena is a 25-minute drive away and Florence and its airport take around 50 minutes. It's a 15-minute drive to Staggia Castle and the Sovestro in Poggio Winery, the San Gimignano Communal Palace, the Piazza Duomo, Podesta's Palace,the Piazza delle Erbe, and the Museum San Gimignano 1300 all take under 20 minutes to reach by car. Parking at the hotel is free.
Rooms
Sophisticated, comfortable, well-lit rooms with luxurious bathrooms
The guest rooms are spacious, with contemporary and sophisticated decor. Rooms are brightly lit, with various lamps, wall sconces, and large windows covered with gauzy curtains. All have hardwood floors, comfortable beds with leather headboards, large flat-screen TVs, desks, kettles for making coffee and tea, mini-fridges, and free Wi-Fi. Some of the higher category rooms are larger and have separate sitting areas with upholstered couches and chairs. However, the Romance Room has an odd configuration: it's a corner unit with the bed awkwardly placed at an angle away from the wall, looking directly into the bathroom and unnecessarily close to the work desk. The bathrooms are luxurious, with beige marble floors and walls, sleek, modern appliances, luxury toiletries, phones, and shower/tub combos with glass doors and rainfall shower heads. Like most hotels in Italy, bathrooms at the Palazzo also have bidets. Views overlooking neighboring rooftops and the hills in the distance are picturesque.
Features
Full-service spa, restaurant, free breakfast, and a bar
The hotel's best feature is most definitely the large, luxurious spa with a big indoor hydromassage pool, a glass sauna, a relaxation room with lounge chairs, rainfall showers, and a spa shop. However, there's a charge to use the swimming pool for guests that haven't booked a spa treatment. Free breakfast is served every morning in a light-filled breakfast room with glass ceilings. The restaurant serves seasonal Tuscan-style dishes and has beautiful crystal chandeliers and floors that expose the foundation of the original 18th-century building. There's also a cafe and bar that's open to non-guests as well as a meeting room and free Wi-Fi throughout the property.
