Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
rooms are clean and comfortable, but the star is the frescoed lounge dating from 1780.
Breakfast €5.
Hotel Cestelli
BOUTIQUE HOTEL
€
( 055 21 42 13;
www.hotelcestelli.com
;
Borgo SS Apostoli 25; d €100-115, s/d with shared bathroom
€60/80, extra bed €25; closed 4 wks Jan-Feb, 3 wks Aug)
A stiletto hop and skip from the Arno
and fashionable Via de' Tornabuoni, this eight-room hotel in a 12th-century
palazzo
is a
gem. Its large, quiet rooms ooze understated style - think washbasin with silk screen and
vintage art. Before stepping out, quiz the couple, Italian photographer Alessio and gra-
cious Japanese Asumi, on new eating, drinking and shopping openings.
Hotel Torre Guelfa
HISTORIC HOTEL
€€
(
055 239 63 38;
www.hoteltorreguelfa.com
; Borgo SS Apostoli 8; d/tr/q €200/250/300;
)
Keen to kip in a Real McCoy Florentine
palazzo
without breaking the bank? If so, this
31-room hotel with a fortress-style facade is the answer. Scale its 13th-century, 50m-tall
tower - Florence's tallest privately owned
torre
- for a sundowner overlooking Florence
and you'll be blown away. Rates are practically halved in low season.
Hotel Davanzati
HOTEL
€€
( 055 28 66 66;
www.hoteldavanzati.it
; Via Porta Rossa 5; s/d/q €132/199/342; )
Twenty-odd steps lead up to this swish hotel snug against Palazzo Davanzati. A beguiling
labyrinth of enchanting rooms, unexpected frescoes and modern comforts, it has bags of
charisma - and that includes Florentine debonair Tommaso and father Fabrizio, who run
the show (Grandpa Marcello surveys proceedings). Laptops are in every room and iPads
are in reception.
Hotel Perseo
HOTEL
€€
( 055 21 25 04;
www.hotelperseo.it
;
Via de' Cerretani 1; s €125, d €147-165, tr €166-195, q €205-230;
)
This perfect family choice offers 20 large rooms, down-to-earth decor and
friendly host couple New Zealander Louise and Italian Giacinto. Top-floor rooms smooch
with the rooftops and gorgeous views of the
duomo.
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