everything about this place is lovely. the staff were beyond helpful, the breakfast every morning in the sun-soaked breakfast room was great and the room we were in was lovely. hanging out in the piazza santo spirito felt like being in a neighborhood instead of a tourist trap. the noise from the locals at night woke us up a few times, but that's a minor complaint. so looking forward to a return trip.

This hotel is located within al thriving square which was a great place to dine (try Osteria San Spirito) and drink in the evening. As many have already said the hotel is located within a palazzo and it provides a dramatic backdrop for a hotel. We were first sent to the dreaded room number 16 which is truly miserable. We were eventually moved to room 5 which is a classic room and was pleasant. Our friends were also staying at the hotel and their room was impressive. All of the staff were really helpful, friendly and warm. Breakfast was good and the hotel has impressive views of the city. It was a comfortable base for our trip.

We've picked this property based on excellent reviews it got on tripadvisor and the very impressive website that it boasts that almost makes you expect you'd be living in a true palace. While the hotel has its pluses, the negatives far outweigh them and I suggest fellow travelers to look elsewhere. First, the building itself. A very impressive 500-year old historic facade with huge windows. What they don't tell you is that the hotel only occupies a part of that building with most of the property taken up by apartments and small businesses. The entrance is a huge let-down - I thought I got the address wrong - it's a dusty and poorly lit hallway of an apartment building (to get to the hotel you need to take a tiny elevator in the corner). Apparently, the building residents are not very happy about the hotel: on our first day we got attacked by a mad-looking woman who ran across the square and started yelling at my wife and myself for allegedly trying to break the entrance door (it's not immediately clear how it opens - the hotel reception gives you the key, but don't really show how it works downstairs) and gave us an angry lecture on how they `always have problems with the boarding house'. Like some other reviewers here, we were given the "attic" room that was easily one of the worst hotel rooms I've ever been too - dark, cold, with a "view" of a roof, with no carpets and, most bizarrely, with a door connecting to another room that had a large keyhole that allowed anyone curious enough to see us. To top it off, there is a very narrow and steep flight of stairs leading to it. I've asked to change the room immediately and, thankfully, we only had to spend one night there. Another room we got was far more impressive - door-size windows (easily 3 1/2 meters tall), very tall ceilings, some antique furniture. It was located in the corner of the building with noises from the square a major nuisance most of the day though. I would have rated Hotel Palazzo Guadagni a `poor' if it wasn't for its glorious balcony offering picturesque views of Florence. That almost made up for the very spartan, convent-type facilities, but not quite. The location itself is OK, a leisurely 15 minute walk to most sights and Santo Spirito church just 50 meters away on the piazza - definitely do pay it a visit, it is often overlooked. There is some value in staying at a historic building and if you don't expect much in terms of facilities, you won't be disappointed. Just don't expect a true palace with gold, marble and silken linens.

We are staying in this hotel at the moment - I can't express how pleased I am at this extraordinary find!! The hotel is on the upper floors of a palazzo on piazza San spirito - a quiet and less touristy part of Firenze but in easy walking distance to everywhere. Our room has a spectacular view of the entire city with direct views of a nearby campanile from the bed and il duomo from the shower. It is exceptionally clean, the service wonderful and a daily delicious breakfast. There is a lift to get to the hotel but a walk back down the staircase is great exercise after a filling breakfast. We will stay here again and I recommend it. Hope to stay here again after a trip to Modena and before we fly out from Milan.