ITALY - Best of Europe 2014 - page 1195

Wi-Fi, Via dei Magazzini 2, tel. [phone], mobile [phone], fax [phone],
www.inpiazzadellasignoria.com , [e-mail] , Sonia and Alessandro).
$$$ Hotel Pendini, with 42 rooms and three slightly tarnished stars, fills the top floor
of a grand building constructed to celebrate Italian unification in the late 19th century. It
overlooks Piazza della Repubblica, and as you walk into the lobby, you feel as if you are
walking back in time (Sb-€139, Db-€189, deluxe Db with square view and noise-€239,
air-con, elevator, free Internet access and Wi-Fi, Via degli Strozzi 2, tel. [phone],
www.hotelpendini.it , [e-mail] ).
$$$ Hotel Olimpia is a friendly, well-worn, established place renting 24 quite dated
rooms on the fourth floor overlooking Piazza della Repubblica (some rooms have views and
noise). You pay for the location (Db-€160, air-con, elevator, pay Wi-Fi, Piazza della Re-
pubblica 2, tel. [phone], fax [phone], www.hotel-olimpia.it , [e-mail] ,
Marziano).
$$ B&B Dei Mori, a peaceful haven with a convivial and welcoming living room, rents
five tastefully appointed rooms ideally located on a quiet pedestrian street near Casa di
Dante—within afive-minute walk ofthe Duomo,the Bargello, orPiazza della Signoria. Ac-
commodatingSuzanne,Daniele,andPeterpridethemselvesonofferingpersonalservice,in-
cludinglotsoftipsondiningandsightseeinginFlorence.Butifthey'refull,I'dskiptheirof-
ferofanapartmentnearby(D-€100,Db-€120,discountformyreaders—askwhenyoubook,
air-con-€5, free Wi-Fi, reception open 8:00-19:00, Via Dante Alighieri 12, tel. [phone],
www.deimori.com , [e-mail] ) .
Near Ponte Vecchio
$$$ Hotel Davanzati, bright and shiny with artistic touches, has 22 cheerful rooms with all
the comforts. The place is a family affair, thoughtfully run by friendly Tommaso and father
Fabrizio, who offer drinks and snacks each evening at their candlelit happy hour, plus lots
of other extras (Sb-€132, Db-€199, Tb-€259, show this topic and ask for Rick Steves rate,
pricessoftoff-season,discountifyoupaycash,freeloanerlaptopineveryroom,freeon-de-
mandmovies—includingmyItalyTVshows—onyourroomTV,air-con,freeWi-Fi,nextto
PiazzaDavanzatiatViaPortaRossa5—easytomisssowatchforlow-profilesignabovethe
door, tel. [phone], fax [phone], www.hoteldavanzati.it , [e-mail] ).
$$$ Hotel Torre Guelfa has grand (almost royal) public spaces and is topped by a fun
medieval tower with a panoramic rooftop terrace. Its 31 pricey rooms vary wildly in size
and layout. Room 315, with a private terrace (€245), is worth reserving several months in
advance (Db-€170-190, Db junior suite-€230, ask for Rick Steves discount, family deals,
checktheirwebsiteforpromotions,air-con,elevator,freeInternetaccessandWi-Fiinlobby,
a couple blocks northwest of Ponte Vecchio, Borgo S.S. Apostoli 8, tel. [phone],