Would you spend the night in what used to be a women's prison in the 12th century? The Pagliazza Tower is the oldest building in Florence. It was built in the 6th century AD by the Byzantines as part of the "newer" city walls to augment the older Roman ones and protect the city during the Gothic War. The circular shape, which was rare in the Middle Ages, reflects ancient Roman building techniques. The tower rests on a circular wall that surrounded a swimming pool or Roman thermal bath. In the basement there is a calidarium, with brick floor channels for heat, which would have been used for steam baths. According to our guide, Roberta, it was used as a women's prison in the 12th century. Pagliazza references the straw mat bedding upon which the inmates slept. Later on, it was converted into the bell tower of a church. Eventually it was acquired as a private residence. Today it is home to a luxury hotel with a small museum and restaurants. The museum showcases artifacts from excavations dating back to the Roman and medieval times. Although we didn't stay here, the history of the Pagliazza Tower is very interesting. read more

Hotel Brunelleschi Firenze - The round medieval tower is the oldest building in Florence - Hotels Near Me - Florence, FI

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"It's not where you live, it's how you live," It's nestled in the heart of Florence with rooms with a view of the Duomo - Duomo (English: /dwomo/, Italian: [dwmo]) is an Italian term for a church with the features of, or having been built to serve as a cathedral, whether or not it currently plays this role. Checking in was easy with an accommodating staff. The rooms are nice, but not fabulous, The elevator system confuses everyone! The breakfast (complementary for us) was quite good. While the location is fabulous and the staff quite nice, I expected a slightly nicer room for the price, but as they say, location, location, location. read more

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A lovely hotel in the heart of Florence. The sleeping area was nicely laid out with a small desk & seating area. The bed was comfortable. Three steps take you to a closet area & a very spacious bathroom. Their service is exceptional. Their breakfast is a winner with a huge selection of items including perfectly prepared scrambled eggs that aren't all dried out. read more

Beautiful hotel right in the heart of Florence. Staff is awesome! Great place for families. We occupied three separate rooms, but had our own entrance, which was really nice. Restaurants on site; offers late evening dining options. Complementary FULL breakfast to start your day! For my American friends, they pour American style coffee, which is really nice after a few days of cafe coffee. Can not say enough good things are about this property and the staff. Book here, you will not be disappointed! Enjoy! read more

Just ok. This hotel came highly recommended but it was a let down. Worst of our entire trip. It's not bad. It's mediocre. Maybe it just relies too heavily on its location. But the location is a curse because the noise outside of the room kept us awake. The amenities (soaps, shampoo, bedding) was less than a standard holiday inn back in the states. For a 5 star hotel the bedding definitely needs an update. It was like staying at my mother in laws. Breakfast was just mid. By the third day I went somewhere else to look. Powdered eggs. Average meat selection. Terrible bacon (and I love my breakfast at other hotels in italy. The rooms are tiny. No place to put anything. We had our entire contents of our luggage on the floor. We booked a larger room because I know I can be picky (at these prices I deserve to be) but it wasn't available upon check in. Ridiculous. They thought they were being generous by only charging us for a standard room, but the rate they charged was higher than I could get on the hotels website. Felt a little ripped off. And I still think the room they ended up giving me was a level down from the one they said they were giving me. Service at the hotel is more fussy than high end. Borderline creepy. Trying not to let it ruin my vacation. I called ahead to my next hotel to confirm they had a nice room for me. Florence is beautiful and we had some great steaks. And the shopping was better than in Rome. Definitely will be back to Florence. read more

Hotel Brunelleschi Firenze - This was an "upgraded" room. They said it was large. - Hotels Near Me - Florence, FI

Wonderful stay here Oct 2022 and will come back. The location is superb and even though it is in the center of town, the room was silent. Very nice bar, staff and even though it is a little tricky to navigate, it is superb in all ways. LOVE IT! read more

Hotel Brunelleschi Firenze - Wonderful!!! - Hotels Near Me - Florence, FI

This is a nice quaint boutique European Hotel tuck away in the Florence pedestrian district. It has a full staff who are all very friendly and accommodating. The rooms are comfortable by someone small and there are several stairs even after you use the elevator. The hotel provides a very hearty buffet breakfast each morning that is very satisfying. Also, you can't beat the location. read more

Fantastic hotel, right in the heart of Florence. A perfect hybrid of Old World (the "tower" is perhaps the oldest structure in Florence) and the New World (each part of the hotel is designed with modern living in mind). The rooms are beautifully furnished in modern amenities... with windows to a cultures that are hundreds of years old. So exhilarating. So fun. So romantica! The hotel is a prime European example of class, elegance, beauty, and excellent service. We made the perfect choice to include this hotel as part of our European vacation. My love and I easily toured the city footsteps from the hotel. While we're here (happily for 5 nights at Brunelleschi) we will visit Cinque Terre, Pisa, and Tuscany. Then on to Rome and the St. Regis. But Hotel Brunelleschi has proven to be a most welcome entry back to Italy. It's my love's first visit; and she is already enamored. Grazie Brunelleschi! read more

Hotel Brunelleschi Firenze - The oldest tower in Firenze is part of this magnificent hotel. - Hotels Near Me - Florence, FI

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This is my favorite hotel of all time and I have stayed in sooo many! The charm and exquisite customer service are unequaled and almost non existent in most hotels in this medium price range. The front desk person gave us a tour upon check in and the nightly turn down was an added bonus. The complimentary breakfast was incredible in every way. I will definitely stay at The Hotel Brunelleschi the next time I'm in Florence! read more

Amazing service right in the center of Florence. The hotel was everything Yelp Trip Advisor and Google reviewers have said. Impeccable service from the minute to reach the front door. The staff is so thoughtful and anticipates your needs. Amazing first floor bar, the Tower Bar, and wonderful staff including Samuel who created new and delightful cocktails. The restaurant Osteria Pagliazza was perfect for lunch or dinner. We are looking forward to our return. read more

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I have visited many hotels in Florence and this was by far, thee best! Not only is the history of the building iconic and interesting, how they have transformed the space is amazing. Clean, spacious, and modern, this hotel has old world appeal and new world modernity. We traveled with a group of 40 people and everyone loved their experience. Bathrobes, slippers, artisan crafted amenities, good Wi-Fi, and an awesome fitness center made this hotel a perfect place to enjoy Florence. In addition to the hotel being centrally located, the service and staff are truly remarkable. Antonio (manager) went above and beyond to help our group feel welcomed and situated, Rafaelle always had great recommendations as concierge, and the housekeepers were lovely and kind. read more

Our stay here could have gotten off to a rocky start as the hotel claimed they were having IT issues and that we were going to be moved to another hotel. This is where the wifey wanted to be so after some firm discussion, the manager somehow found a suite that the current tenants left early. Not buying that but in the end, we received the upgrade and the wife got to stay where she wanted. This place was great. Super clean, very friendly, and right in the middle of everything you want to see. It is difficult to find for a day or two but so is everything else here. The front desk has great maps to keep you on track. Worst case scenario, you get lost for a bit and enjoy some awesome scenery or great food. A few notes: *they have everything a U.S. Hotel has for toiletries, etc. you don't need to bring your gallon of shampoo. They have a built in hairdryer for the wife (or your mullet) and the only thing lacking is an iron (Italy doesn't supply them in hotels.) *The room had an American plug but you still want to bring a couple adapters to charge all of your stuff. *You are a 13 minute walk from the train station or about a 15 euro (6 minute) cab ride to the train station. *Ask to see the museum in the basement. They found Roman bathes while renovating and there are some cool displays downstairs. *The front desk will happily call to confirm tours and such to save your painful Italian and conserve your over-priced US phone minutes. read more

Excellent location! Excellent breakfast! Excellent service, all the staff super kind, lovely amenities! Comfy beds with top shelf bedding. Highly recommend! Ciao! read more

Our travel agent Marcie Karavakis of The Dream Experience found this hotel for us. This place is so beautifully appointed with all modern conveniences and kept some of the historic structure. All in fabulous taste. Perfectly located. We only had breakfast there, but it was very good and fresh. The staff was friendly and welcoming. We highly recommend this hotel. read more

We were wanting to stay the Hotel Savoy which is about a block for Brunelleschi, but it didn't work out. We ended up here which turned out to be just what we needed. The Pros: * Spacious room, suite w/nice bathroom * Centrally located in the shopping district * Comfortable beds! * Staff is kind and work hard to please you * Dependable AC in the 90 degree heat * Fitness room that we never got to unfortunately The Cons: * Have to get on two elevators to get to our room but not a huge deal On the whole, no complaints. Had a very pleasant stay and would stay again. read more

This is our first time to Florence and first time to Hotel Brunelleschi! Let me just say, my wife and I have traveled the world but we have never received such a grand welcome as we received today checking in. Amazing, warm, friendly, "this is your home". They explained everything. The location is amazing, the room is perfect! We highly recommend! read more

This is a great hotel right in the middle of Florence so it's easy to walk everywhere. There are so many restaurants, museums, and sights to see only a stone's throw from your doorstep so you can explore in the morning, come back for a quick rest, and go out again in the evening to re-conquer the rest of the city! The rooms are nicely appointed, our bathroom was large & the included breakfast buffet was great! The front desk people are very helpful & kind and always welcomed us back after a day of wandering around Firenze! Stay here! read more

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Exquisite hotel located in the heart of Florence shopping area. We were here for our honeymoon and received cart Blanche service. They gave us a complimentary bottle of champagne and upgraded us to a junior suite for free. The breakfast included in our package was a huge spread with almost anything you could want...from cereal to muffins to eggs, bacon, pancakes, fresh fruit, even tofu!! Our room had a mini living room with an espresso machine, coffee maker and tea maker and a mini bar stocked with a variety of nuts. There was also a mini luggage closet section. Our room was cleaned earlier in the day and then someone turned down our bed for us. The most wonderful hotel experience ever. read more

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Beautiful hotel in a beautiful city! Loved the modern/historic hotel but it does come with a price tag to match. The rooms were luxurious with very nice amenities. Friendly staff with pretty good English skills. Very nice breakfast. The only problem was asking for some ice (not a common request in Italy) from room service and never receiving it. read more

The rooms are very nice and cozy. Staff is very kind and always willing to help you. Reservations are easy to make with the staff. Rooms have wonderful views. read more

This hotel is the stupidest place I've been I'm my life!!!!! Room service takes double the time, it should take usually 20-30 min, with them it takes over 45 Min and they don't give u a tray with the food. They expect u to eat on there tiny table, WTF kind of crap is that!!! They also say breakfast is complimentary but not when u order it to your room..... WTF than, why say it's complimentary when u only can go to there restaurant for it to be complimentary.... the only thing that have going for them is that it's right next to the shopping outlets. They are by far the stupidest hotel in Florence!!!! O and the room is the size of your bathroom, really!!!! Stay away from this place!!!!!! read more

This was by far the most accommodating and helpful hotel we stayed at during our 10-day trip to Italy. The service of the staff including the Concierge's, door men, cleaning crew, etc. was a 10/10. The staff helped us every day to confirm our excursions, train rides, vehicle transfers and hotel accommodations for the remainder of our trip to Italy. They even assisted us in providing recommendations for dinner and printing out tickets for some of our tours. The location of this hotel is perfect - we were able to walk everywhere we wanted to go every day. We were a 2 minute walk from the Duomo and less than 10 minute walk from everything else. I would highly recommend this hotel for everyone visiting Florence! read more

One of the best hotels to stay in Florence! You are in the shadows of the Duomo off this quaint little street. Their restaurant Santa Elisabetta is probably one of the most romantic and historic restaurants I've ever been in (only 7 tables!). We saw a proposal there! The byzantine tower that makes up a portion of the hotel is the oldest building in Florence! Such history and charm here. What really makes the experience is the staff. They really go out of their way to make your stay truly special. I really felt at home here, like they were family. Oh, and you should also check out their breakfast spread in the morning. Any dietary concerns? They have it covered with gluten-free options AND vegan options.....in Italy!!! Really impressed. Love this place! read more

Hotel Brunelleschi Firenze - Hotels Near Me - Florence, FI

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Exceptional service. Staff very attentive and helpful. Hotel was immaculate. Raffaele the receptionist was outstanding. Breakfast was great. I would definitely recommend this hotel. read more

We just had our first stay in Florence and it was a remarkable experience. Frankly the Hotel Brunelleschi helped to add a level of comfort and accomodation to our stay that was the cherry on top of the cake! All the staff was very kind, concerned about our needs, and insured that every moment was handled with excellence and an elegant level of service. One night we needed a restaurant and Antonella at the front desk was kind enough to walk a few streets with us and recommend restaurants to us a we walked and chatted. She took us to a fabulous experience - Palio in an old monestary on a side street! we would never have found this on our own. I would also like to add that the location was perfect for getting around and experiencing all that Florence has to offer! read more

Great stay and great location. Couldn't of had a better or more welcoming staff. Would definitely stay here out next trip to Firenze.

For our trip to Florence, my wife and I spent 3 nights at the Hotel Brunelleschi - partially on the strength of the reviews (and some of the pictures, which turned out to be more of the suites), but more because of the very central location of the hotel. I was very surprised that our cabbie made it through the narrow streets to park us right in front of the hotel, and after getting checked in (at a somewhat leisurely pace, compared to what I am used to in the U.S.), we were in the elevator and on our way to the room. Given the architectural layout of this part of the city, it is quite unique how the different parts of the hotel are connected amongst what are clearly different building structures (e.g. the gym is on the south side, and we could only get to the north side of the hotel by either going down and back up a different set of elevators, or by sneaking through the restaurant where brunch is served, which seemed to serve as a bridge). The folks at the front desk were pretty responsive and gave us good tips for seeing the sights, as well as setting up reservations. However, they were the proximate cause of us nearly missing our flight out of Florence...we had called the night before to have a taxi called, and when they were all on strike the next morning, they simply did not tell us until we were checking out (we barely made the bus at the train station after half-running from the hotel). That knocks a solid star of the overall ranking, as that is sheer negligence on their part - given they knew when and what time our flight was at. The decor of our room was rather straightforward, with modern finishes, a small fridge, and a bathroom that was definitely more on the modern side (which I appreciated). In particular, I liked the ceiling-like showerhead, where you let gravity do the work for the water pressure (as that can sometimes be fickle in Europe). Along with the clear/translucent staircases that we often took to get from the 3rd floor (near the top) to the ground level, it certainly gives the accommodations a bit of a peculiar feel - with more modern finishes and appliances but in a structure that is very much shaped and influenced by a much different era. The room is nice and cozy without being overly tiny (like some European rooms). However, our window looked out right to a building very close by...so not much natural light or anything to look at. I would definitely pay up more for a room with a view of the Duomo next time. We did eat once here for brunch, and aside from the caveat that at 18 euros/person - which is pricey for Florence - the breakfast buffet food is a cut above what I usually encounter at hotels. The scrambled eggs were delicious, the breakfast meats were excellent (as was the proscuitto, of course), and the orange juice was actually fresh-squeezed (so many places in Europe set out OJ and claim it is fresh when it is clearly from concentrate). It was a very enjoyable experience, and for those looking for a bit of calm while getting ready for sightseeing or whatever else the day may bring - it is a very relaxing and laid-back environment. Would I stay here again? Quite possibly, because the location is good, the amenities are solid overall, and the price was reasonable. But I would be wary of relying on the front desk to make sure all of your plans are in order - or you need to tell them explicitly to contact you if something goes awry. read more

Just returned from a wonderful stay . What a beautiful hotel . So central to everything you want to see in florence . Hotel staff were very helpful and advised us of train times to pisa and even offered to book restaurants for us. Would highly recommend this hotel x read more

Our Amex platinum concierge booked us here for our Itally girls trip. It was a fabulous hotel and probably our favorite of our two week Italian adventure. They made accommodations since there was three of us in the room. And the general manager left Prosecco & cookies as a welcoming gift. Location was fabulous central to everything but it wasn't on a main street so we felt like we were in a hidden gem away from all the tourist when we needed to rest. Lots of history in the building yet new contemporary rooms which we loved! Will definitely be back! read more

Wonderful hotel in the heart of Florence with great amenities. Our room was absolutely beautiful with plenty of space to accomodate all our luggage. We absolutely loved the high-end bathroom with spa type robes, towels and slippers. The only reason we are not giving this hotel a 5 Star rating is because of the location of our room, which was facing a noise street and unable to get a good nights rest. The staff was warm and welcoming. Highly recommend, but make sure your room is not in the annex. read more

This hotel is so beautiful and in a great location! Everything is about 10-15 minute away walking distance. Staff is extremely helpful and friendly with plenty of great advice for daily adventures. The rooms were very clean and upgraded. Breakfast buffet was delicious. I would definitely stay here again in my next visit to Florence :) read more

We enjoyed a three week trip this summer in Europe. Exploring five amazing cities in three countries. By far the Hotel Brunelleschi was the BEST! We were ready for their amazing service, attention and comfort. Upon arrival we were greeted by several very helpful staff, I believe it was Sergio and Paulus. Exceptional service by both! We loved the location, the cleanliness, how comfortable the rooms were and the air conditioning! We were there during the heat wave in Europe this past summer. It is rare for a hotel to go above and beyond the ordinary but Sergio did. He did the most amazing thing for us...my son left a shirt he was very excited to get while in Florence tangled up in the bed sheets and we noticed just a few days later while in our final destination. I thought it a long shot but I emailed the hotel expecting sad, disappointing news that the shirt had not been found. BUT!!! the response was the absolute opposite and they returned the shirt to us in the US. I truly have NEVER had such service! This place is terrific! Not to mention we loved the breakfast options. We had very mediocre "American" breakfasts at the other accommodations during our trip so our expectations were low. We were pleasantly surprised to find a large selection of hot and cold foods that easily filled us up for our morning of exploring! I will always stay at the Hotel Brunelleschi when I am in Florence and will recommend it to anyone I know heading that way! read more

My husband and I came to Hotel Brunelleschi for a few nights of our honeymoon. Gorgeous hotel, very friendly staff, and delicious breakfasts. Next time I come to Florence, I will definitely be staying at Hotel Brunelleschi. Be sure to check out the museum within the hotel too - it was interesting. read more

Wow, we were blown away at this place. We just arrived and I haven't seen service like this since the Ritz in Hawaii. Everything looks new and refinished, while still retaining the charm of a city 2000 years old. Our room is completely redone, big shower, great view, super happy. read more

Only came here to have dinner, and it was OK but not more. Wine served in a warm glass, entrée needed a bit more seasoning for my taste, and they serve by default 1l water for 7 EUR even though you're just one person. Must admit, my expectations were a bit higher for a 4-star hotel, but I do however like that the menu of the month came with a recipe for 4 people that you can take home! read more

Only four stars because I don't want the fact that my first trip to Italy was an event of a lifetime to inflate my score. This hotel is fantastic. It is housed partially in a building which was built in the 5th century. 1000 years before Michelangelo! I still cannot believe that! We had no idea we had booked such a historic place but what a way to start off an amazing vacation. The staff was very helpful and our rooms were spotless on arrival. A nice bottle of bubbly greeted us in our room. The staff assisted us with restaurant recommendations and making train reservations. Each and every contact with them was pleasant and helpful. The best part was our last day. We were notified by the staff that traffic would be a mess due to The Pope visiting Florence. When we asked how often the Pope visits no one could remember the last time any Pontiff came to town. Though our room was on the 3rd floor the staff allowed us to view from a first floor room. Very nice of them! That was awesome and I'm not even Catholic! We paid $400 per night. The experience was well worth it. read more

**Posting on my stepdad's behalf** Over the past twenty-five years, traveling as a consultant, I have stayed in over 300 hotels encompassing over 2000 nights' stay. At Marriott Hotels alone, I earned over three million points. Thus, I have the perspective to write this review. The Hotel Brunelleschi in Florence is quite simply, perfect. It is perfect in every aspect. The rooms are comfortable, the amenities delightful, the beds supremely comfortable, and the breakfast buffet is awesome. The hotel location- a few blocks north of the Piazza Signoria/Palazzo Vecchio and a block and a half south of the Chiesa Santa Maria del Fiore (The Duomo/Campanille/Baptistry)- puts it within walking distance of any of Florence's attractions. Most appreciated, the staff has an incredibly helpful, cheerful, and positive attitude. If you are going to be away from home, no place I have ever stayed does so well at making you feel like you are, indeed, at home. Though officially rated at four stars, I give the Hotel Brunelleschi a five star rating. It is, quite simply, among the five best hotels I have stayed at anywhere in the world read more

We picked this hotel for its central location within Florence. The hotel is very clean and well presented. Our room was a little on the small side but with so much to see and do in Florence very little time is spent there. The hotel also has a nice roof terrance with great views, particularly of the Piazza Duomo (which is about a 2 minute walk away). Breakfast was good but we choose not to have dinner in the hotel as there are so many great places to eat around the city. The hotel bar is a little pricey at 8 EUROS for a small bottle of beer (same beer in the supermarket 5 mins away was 99c). One slightly odd point in the room which i would imagine some might not like (although we were not bothered) is that one end of the bathroom, next to the toilet, has a glass wall into the room so is not very private. Overall a really good hotel in a great location. read more

The staff is incredibly friendly and helpful. The hotel is beautiful, modern, clean and well located. The buffet breakfast is amazing. The gym is a nice plus and the hotel is very quiet. We truly enjoyed our stay and would go back. read more

Honestly, an amazing hotel with incredibly helpful staff. Top shelf accommodations, and the continental breakfast kicks butt! So centrally located that it's nuts! Can't imagine a better place to stay in the center of Florence! read more