The Place
Our printed guide editor Nicky Swallow writes that Hotel Palazzo Guadagni as a Room with a View atmosphere. This 16thC palazzo, originally built for a silk merchant, offers guests not just a room, but a whole Loggia Roof Bar with panoramic views of Florence. A family-run hotel, Palazzo Guadagni has the authentic feel of a private Florentine home – our reporter notes the genuine warmth and friendliness of the staff, as well as their willingness to go above and beyond.
Each of the 15 rooms are unique, and range from a classic double all the way up to deluxe rooms with balconies. They are all decorated in keeping with the Palazzo’s historic charm, with many featuring frescoed ceilings, fireplaces and Vietri ceramic tiles. The furniture is elegant, the bathrooms modern, and the views over sights such as Palazzo Pitti, the Duomo, and Santo Spirito Square are stunning.
The Hotel serves a continental breakfast every morning, which guests can enjoy on the Loggia Roof Bar’s terrace, overlooking the city and the surrounding hills. The Roof Bar also offers both small and generous plates for lunch and throughout the day, as well as a fine selection of Italian wines and cocktails.
Palazzo Guadagni is perfectly located for those who want to be in the centre of things while escaping the more touristy crowds. Oltrarno itself is a vibrant, authentically Florentine neighbourhood renowned for its trattorias, artisan workshops, farmers’ market, and antique dealers – and is also a stone’s throw from key landmarks such as Pitti Palace, Ponte Vecchio, and the Uffizi Gallery.