Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
spills out onto an old stone terrace. No breakfast, but there are free tea- and coffee-making
facilities.
Hotel Balestri
( 055 21 47 43;
www.hotel-balestri.it
; Piazza Mentana 7; d €100-160, tr €140-165; )
Dating
to 1888, this hotel on the banks of the Arno remains the only riverside place to stay in
downtown Florence. As part of the chic, quality-guaranteed Whythebest Florence hotel
group (they're the guys behind Hotel L'O, Villa Cora and other chic pads), Balestri is
comfortably contemporary while retaining a distinct old-world charm.
HISTORIC HOTEL
€€
Villa Landucci
( 055 66 05 95;
www.villalanducci.it
;
Via Luca Landucci 7; d €100-120; )
Five elegant
and refreshingly spacious rooms are named after Tuscan wines at this gourmet-themed
B&B, a short walk away from Santa Croce. The best in the house, 'Bolgheri' and 'Chi-
anti', open to the wonderful flower-adorned back garden with a play area that kids will
love.
Hosts Debora and Matteo are founts of knowledge when it comes to dining well, and
they can organise wine-tasting and food tours for guests. Breakfast is predominantly or-
ganic and the free parking is a rarity in the city.
B&B
€€
TOP OF CHAPTER
4
The Oltrarno
Hostel Santa Monaca
HOSTEL
€
( 055 26 83 38;
www.ostellosantamonaca.com
;
Via Santa Monaca 6; dm €18-22, d/q per person €25.50/
22; reception 6am-2am; )
This 112-bed hostel set in an 1880s convent opened in
1966 to give shelter to flood victims and is warmly recommended. It has a great little ter-
race, the size of a pocket handkerchief, and guests can rent bicycles to pedal around town
(€2/10 per hour/day).
Facilities include a well-equipped kitchen, washing machine (charge applies), free safe
deposits, free wi-fi and two computers to surf. Girls-only or mixed dorms sleep four to 22
and are closed for cleaning between 10am and 2pm. Curfew 2am.
