Housed in a 16th-century monastery-turned-palazzo, the hotel makes a splendid first impression. A pebbled courtyard with potted palms, scattered tables and benches, columned arcades, and classical sculptures all make the grounds feel special. Large classical paintings and preserved original frescoes give the lobby and common spaces an authentic touch, though the furniture looks outdated rather than antique. The hotel is particularly popular with tour groups, which sometimes makes common areas feel noisy and hectic, particularly during breakfast. 

The hotel is just north of the historic center of Florence. This residential corner of the San Lorenzo neighborhood is quiet but still retains a classical Florentine character. Antica Trattoria da Tito -- just across the street from the hotel, -- has excellent traditional Tuscan meals and is popular with locals and tourists alike. It's a five-minute walk from the hotel to the San Lorenzo Basilica and a 10-minute walk from the Medici Chapel and the Accademia Gallery, home to Michelangelo’s David. The Duomo is 15 minutes from the hotel on foot and the Uffizi Gallery and Ponte Vecchio are a 20-minute walk away. Taxis take about 10 minutes to reach Santa Maria Novella Train Station, and 20 minutes to Amerigo Vespucci Airport.

The rooms and apartments here are spacious, clean, and bright, but they don’t live up to the grandeur suggested by their palazzo setting. Whether they are located in the newer structure or the historic 16th-century building, most rooms and apartments are spartan and dated, with mismatched furniture ranging from vintage leather chairs to bamboo tables, much of it with evident wear and tear. The art on the walls looks cheap and the pieces are small for the high-ceilinged spaces, as are the flat-screen TVs. All rooms have safes, minibars, and air-conditioning. Double beds at this hotel, which have thin patterned comforters, are simply two twin beds shoved together and aren’t the most comfortable. The large, tiled, en-suite bathrooms with walk-in showers are simple and have heated towel racks, though the grout in some is in need of a good cleaning.

Some Two-Room Apartments have terraces and all Two- and Three-Room Apartments have separate bedrooms and kitchenettes with small electric burners and mini-fridges, though there is a fee to use the kitchenette and the cleaning staff will not take care of used dishes. Thin walls mean that guests can hear noise from neighboring rooms, and rooms facing Trattoria da Tito can be noisy late into the night. 

An excellent breakfast is included in room rates and comes with plenty of hot and cold options along with hot coffee, though the large groups that stay here can make breakfast hours exceptionally hectic. Fortunately, guests have the option of taking breakfast in their rooms. Light meals and cocktails are available in the on-site bar throughout the day, and drinks can be taken to the tables in the lovely columned arcade or courtyard, weather permitting. The on-site conference room can host up to 100 people, though the space is average and doesn’t have the historic quality of the hotel’s grounds or common areas. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel, and the 24-hour front desk can provide concierge services and arrange laundry or dry cleaning.