WHERE TO STAY - Florence and Tuscany - page 242

CITY CENTRE EAST Hotel Continentale

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Vicolo dell'Oro 6r, 50123 Tel [phone] Fax [phone] Rooms 43 Map 6 D4
This trendy, contemporary hotel is designed to impress. The entrance lobby features installations by the leading Ital-
ian artist, Fabrizio Corneli. The rooms are chic and have good views - in most cases of the Ponte Vecchio. The fitness
and wellness centre is housed in the medieval tower. www.lungarnohotels.com
CITY CENTRE EAST J and J

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Via di Mezzo 20, 50121 Tel [phone] Fax [phone] Rooms 19 Map 2 E5
A 16th-century convent is now this superb hotel. The large rooms, some of which are on two levels, are all decorated
differently. All boast antique furniture and handwoven fabrics. Rooms either overlook the red-tiled rooftops or the
cloister garden, where breakfast and drinks can be enjoyed in the summer. www.jandj.hotelinfirenze.com
CITY CENTRE EAST Plaza Hotel Lucchesi

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Lungarno della Zecca Vecchia 38, 50122 Tel [phone] Fax [phone] Rooms 97 Map 4 E2
A private home built in 1860, the building was converted into a hotel in the 1940s. Furnished in a warm and cosy
style, the rooms have outstanding views of the city. Some have sprawling terraces with views of the Arno or Santa
Croce. The restaurant, La Serra, specializes in Tuscan cuisine. www.plazalucchesi.it
CITY CENTRE EAST Relais Santa Croce

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Via Ghibellina 87, 50122 Tel [phone] Fax [phone] Rooms 24 Map 4 F1
This wonderful hotel, in an 18th-century palazzo, is just a short stroll from Michelangelo's house. Most of its
luxurious rooms overlook the street. The music room and smoking room retain the splendour of their grand past.
The restaurant serves Tuscan delicacies. www.relaissantacroce.it
CITY CENTRE NORTH Casa di Barbano

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Via di Barbano 1, 50129 Tel [phone] Fax [phone] Rooms 3 Map 1 C3
The simple and elegant ground-floor rooms are furnished with a practised eye at this family-run guesthouse, which is
reasonably priced while maintaining high standards. All rooms are en-suite. Breakfast is served in your room. The
charming owner gives dining tips, books museum tickets and even lends out umbrellas. www.casadibarbano.it
CITY CENTRE NORTH Casa Rovai

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Via Fiesolana 1, 50122 Tel [phone] Fax [phone] Rooms 6 Map 2 E5
A renovated family home has been converted into a lovely and comfortable guesthouse. All the spacious rooms are
en-suite, and some have nice frescoes. The friendly staff and owner make a real difference, as do their restaurant
tips. There is a terrace which gives a good view over the centre of town. www.casarovai.it
CITY CENTRE NORTH Residenza Johanna II

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Via Cinque Giornate 2, 50129 Tel [phone] Fax [phone] Rooms 10 Map 1 C2
This Liberty-style villa is very clean, comfortable and pleasantly furnished. You get your own keys to the front door as
the staff go home at 7pm. Rooms are simple, with high ceilings and pale, pastel floral prints. Breakfast is basic and
served in your room. There is free parking in the courtyard behind. No credit cards. www.johanna.it
CITY CENTRE NORTH Antica Dimora Firenze

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Via San Gallo 72, 50129 Tel [phone] Fax [phone] Rooms 6 Map 2 D3
Of the Johanna & Johlea group of guesthouses, Antica Dimora is the most sumptuous, with splendid four-poster
beds in the individually decorated bedrooms. There is a DVD library for the use of guests. The afternoon tea, which
is served in the homely lounge, is a real treat. www.anticadimorafirenze.it
CITY CENTRE NORTH Palazzo Benci

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Piazza Madonna Aldobrandini 3, 50123 Tel [phone] Fax [phone] Rooms 35 Map 1 C5
Once belonging to the famous Benci family, this 16th-century palazzo has a breathtakingly beautiful courtyard-
garden. Contemporary furnishings set off the original features of the carefully restored building. All rooms have
double-glazed windows, and those at the back overlook the Medici Chapels. www.palazzobenci.com
CITY CENTRE NORTH Hotel Botticelli

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Via Taddea 8, 50123 Tel [phone] Fax [phone] Rooms 34 Map 2 E5
A few steps from the market of San Lorenzo is this hotel, located in a 16th-century palazzo that has undergone
restoration. The Renaissance architecture and vaulted, frescoed ceilings give it a thoroughly Florentine feel. Views
of San Lorenzo and the cathedral's dome can be enjoyed from the covered terrace. www.hotelbotticelli.it
CITY CENTRE NORTH Hotel Liana

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Via Vittorio Alfieri 18, 50121 Tel [phone] Fax [phone] Rooms 24 Map 2 F4
This wonderful hotel is just across the viale (boulevard) that marks the edge of the historic centre, but only a five-
minute walk from Santa Croce. It was the British embassy for a few years in the 19th-century. The rooms are large and
gorgeous with their frescoed ceilings and original floors. There is a delightful garden to relax in. www.hotelliana.com
CITY CENTRE NORTH Orto de' Medici

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Via San Gallo 30, 50129 Tel [phone] Fax [phone] Rooms 31 Map 2 D4
Ten minutes on foot from the Duomo, and five from the Accademia, this mid-19th century building has large
frescoes in its lounges and breakfast room. A delightful flower-filled terrace overlooks San Marco. The banqueting
suites make the hotel popular with the locals for festive occasions. All rooms non-smoking. www.ortodeimedici.it