ITALY - Best of Europe 2014 - page 1186

$$ Moderately Priced —Most rooms between €100-160.
$ Lower Priced —Most rooms €100 or less.
Prices can change without notice; verify the hotel's current rates online or by
email.
$ Katti House and the nearby Soggiorno Annamaria are run by house-proud mama-
and-daughter team Maria and Katti, who rent a total of 15 rooms on a bustling pedestrian
street. While both offer comparable comfort, Soggiorno Annamaria has a more historic set-
ting, with frescoed ceilings, unique tiles, timbered beams, and quieter rooms. Katti House
serves as reception for both places, but mostly you interact with Maria; while she's a fine
hostess, she speaks virtually no English so communication can be challenging (Sb-€85, D-
€85, Db-€100, skimpy breakfast served in your room, air-con, free Internet access and Wi-
Fi—only in Katti, Via Faenza 21, if no answer check in at Trattoria Katti next door, tel. &
fax [phone], www.kattihouse.com , [e-mail] ).
North of the Duomo
North of the Mercato Centrale
After dark, this neighborhood can feel a little deserted, but I've never heard of anyone run-
ning into harm here. It's a short walk from the train station and an easy stroll to all the sight-
seeing action. While workaday, it's practical, with plenty of good budget restaurants and
markets nearby.
$$ Grand Tour Firenze has six charming rooms on a nondescript street between the
train station and the Accademia. This cozy B&B will make you feel right at home; it's
thoughtfully appointed andthe owners,Cristina andGiuseppe, live there. The delightful and
spacious suites come with a garden ambience on the ground floor (Db-€110, suite-€130,
ask for discount when you book direct and pay cash, includes breakfast voucher for the
corner bar—or skip it to save €10/person, air-con, free Wi-Fi, Via Santa Reparata 21, tel.
055-283-955, www.florencegrandtour.com , [e-mail] ).Theyrunanother
more romantic, pricier place a couple of blocks away.
$$ Galileo Hotel, a classy business hotel with 31 rooms on a chaotic and congested
street, is run with familial warmth (Sb-€100, Db-€130, Tb-€150, ask for Rick Steves dis-
count when you book direct and pay cash, quadruple-pane windows effectively shut out
street noise, air-con, elevator, free Internet access and Wi-Fi, Via Nazionale 22a, tel.
055-496-645, fax [phone], www.galileohotel.it , [e-mail] ) .