ITALY - Best of Europe 2014 - page 1201

breakfast-€7, air-con, elevator, free Internet access and Wi-Fi, Via de' Guicciardini 13, tel.
055-283-028, fax [phone], www.hotellascaletta.it , [e-mail] ) .
$ Istituto Gould is a Protestant Church-run place with 39 clean and spartan rooms that
have twin beds and modern facilities. It's located in a 17th-century palace with a beauti-
ful garden courtyard. The complex also houses kids from troubled homes, and proceeds
raised from renting rooms help fund that important work (Sb-€55, Db-€60, €20 more for
garden rooms that are quieter and have air-con, Tb-€81, Qb-€100, breakfast-€6, non-air-con
roomshavefans,freeWi-Fiinlobby,ViadeiSerragli49,tel.[phone],fax[phone],
www.istitutogould.it , [e-mail] ). You must arrive when the of-
fice is open (Mon-Fri 8:45-13:00 & 15:00-19:30, Sat 9:00-13:30 & 14:30-18:00, no live
check-in on Sundays but they'll email you a code).
$ Soggiorno Alessandra has five bright, comfy, and smallish rooms. Because of its
double-paned windows, you'll hardly notice the traffic noise (D-€73, Db-€78, Tb-€98, Qb-
€128, cheaper off-season, includes basic breakfast in room, air-con-€8, free Wi-Fi, just
past the Carraia Bridge at Via Borgo San Frediano 6, tel. [phone], fax [phone],
www.soggiornoalessandra.it , [e-mail] , Alessandra).
$ Casa Santo Nome di Gesù is a grand, 29-room convent whose sisters—Franciscan
Missionaries of Mary—are thankful to rent rooms to tourists. Staying in this 15th-century
palace, you'll be immersed in the tranquil atmosphere created by a huge, peaceful garden,
generousandprayerfulpublicspaces,andsmilingnuns.Themonasticroomshaveonlytwin
beds (D-€70, Db-€85, T-€100, Tb-€120, book direct to avoid fees, no air-con but rooms
have fans, memorable convent-like breakfast room, elevator, strict 23:29 curfew, Piazza del
Carmine 21, tel. [phone], fax [phone], www.fmmfirenze.it , [e-mail] ) .
Hostel: $ Ostello Santa Monaca, a well-run, institutional-feeling hostel a long block
south of the Brancacci Chapel. As clean as its guests, its 112 beds in 15 rooms (2- to
20-bed dorms) attract a young backpacking crowd (€18-26/bed with sheets and towel,
10:00-14:00 lock-out, 2:00 in the morning curfew, free Internet access and Wi-Fi, self-
serve laundry, kitchen, bike rental, Via Santa Monaca 6, tel. [phone], fax [phone],
www.ostellosantamonaca.com , [e-mail] ).
Rural Agriturismo South of Florence
The countryside south of Florence is loaded with enticing rural farms offering accommod-
ations, called agriturismi . This option is about 45 minutes south of Florence, in the Chianti
region.
$$$ I Greppi di Silli is a lovely, family-run agriturismo set among rolling hills south
of Florence. Owners Anna and Giuliano Alfani cultivate Chianti grapes and olive trees, and
offer six carefully remodeled apartments with beds for 2-6 people, some with panoramic