The 53-room Calzaiuoli Hotel is in the heart of Florence’s historic district, on a crowded pedestrian street connecting the Duomo and the Palazzo Vecchio. Rooms are spacious and elegant; some look over the rooftops to the Duomo. There is no restaurant, nor are there substantial public spaces, but the area is filled with restaurants, cafes, and shops. Guests will find the Calzaiuoli Hotel ideal for immersing themselves in Florence’s cultural and historic sights, most of which are within walking distance. The Calzaiuoli Hotel’s restored Renaissance facade is elegant and perfectly suited for the narrow pedestrian shopping street it occupies. Once guests enter the lobby, the hotel is up to date and sophisticated. The lobby is small but uncluttered, with just a few places to sit, and pretty botanical watercolors on the walls. The breakfast lounge is beautiful, with navy and cream floral wallpaper and matching drapes, and blue velvet banquettes, underneath vintage-y brass chandeliers. There are large windows with fantastic views of the busy Via Calzaiuoli, excellent for people watching over morning cappuccino. The bar is cozy and wood paneled, with damask drapes and a warm, welcoming, civilized feel.
Rooms at the Calzaiuoli Hotel are soft and sophisticated, painted in lovely whites and beiges, with decorative moldings; some rooms have elaborate fresco-like painted ceilings. Headboards are upholstered in velvet, and many rooms have pretty toile-covered chairs. Walls are hung with botanical watercolors, old-fashioned silhouettes, and other period artwork. Spacious and uncluttered, Deluxe Rooms have large brown marble bathrooms with soaking tubs; bathrooms in Standard Rooms are smaller but nice and well-stocked with toiletries. Rooms have free Wi-Fi, satellite TV with pay movies, minibars, and laptop safes. The Deluxe Prestige Rooms are the most modern and stylish in the hotel.
The Calzaiuoli Hotel offers a free breakfast buffet to guests, including local cheeses, meats, and other Tuscan pastries and delicacies. Upon request, breakfast can be served in rooms for no extra charge. There is a cozy bar for afternoon aperitifs or Bellinis to accompany people-watching on the Via Calzaiuoli. The hotel is located on a pedestrian-only street, but has an arrangement with a nearby garage for private parking. The service is pricey, but convenient, as cars are not allowed at the hotel. There is a reading room on the premises with Italian and international newspapers and magazines.