This was not my first time in Florence and as fantastic this city always may be, this time the experience was highly enhanced by our choice of accommodation. Traveling with a dear friend, we chose two suites connected by a small common entrance lobby, Aloe and Adenia, so we could keep our privacy or communicate freely when we opened our doors without any on-lookers. The suites are furnished and decorated in an exquisite eclectic style that suited our sense of aesthetics and fits the grandeur of a city like Florence! We were actually taken aback by all the amenities included, the mix of modern and historic and the attention to every detail!
The suites were on the first floor of a historic building easily accessible through a short flight of stairs. In Aloe suite, the bathroom had all the modern fixtures one may require, like a generous shower enclosure with a rain shower head, plus the personality of an exposed (centuries old) brick wall and terrazzo floor. In the rest of the suite, well preserved historic elements reminiscent of the rich history of the city were incorporated into a very well planned suite with a separate bedroom area. The linen was of great quality, clean and crisp, while the bed mattress was a memory foam topped queen-size and I can can easily confess to having my best sleeping experience there. Closet space was also abundant with two closets in total. The super atmospheric living area with the large antique oval mirror and old brick wall had a sofa bed so I imagine larger groups could be easily accommodated. By one corner, a lovely kitchenette in the guise of an old buffet furniture with a mini fridge, induction hot plate, electric kettle, all equipped to facilitate breakfast and some snacking with a glass of the famous local wine in the evening! The beautiful antique round table, at the other corner of the living area, had become our entertainment center and a work/play hot spot for late evenings, thanks to internet access.
The most remarkable aspect of the suites, however, is their location: literally a 3 minute walk for the central train station of Santa Marina Novella, it was super easy to find. However, the neighborhood is far from touristic but rather a colorful, residential area with ethnic corner shops, a fresh pasta workshop down the same street, a bicycle repair shop etc. I loved the fact that with staying there I took a pick at the everyday life of the Florentines, I loved taking my morning coffee in the small (and extremely) economic coffee shop in the morning together with the locals. The suite was just a 5 minute walk from the Arno promenade which leads to the famous bridge of Ponte Vecchio, the Galleria degli Uffizzi museum, the Palazzo Pitti museum, a 10 minute walk from the Duomo with its world renowned dome and the maze of breathtakingly beautiful little alleys with shops and galleries around it. Another gem of the city that was within a 5 minute walk from the suite, was the central open market where one can find all the foody treasures Tuscany has to offer, on the ground floor, and taste them cooked in the loft above the market where numerous cooking counters offered everything from home made pasta, pizza to a juicy cut of meat for the bistecca fiorentina (just ask your host for indications).
In all, I would highly recommend the suite for the ease of access, the proximity to all interesting sites and transportation, the comfort and the amazing style.
All bookings are direct with the owner 