Hotel Santa Maria Novella, Florence

Located directly on the piazza that gives the hotel its name, just five minutes from the train station, Hotel Santa Maria Novella immerses you into centuries of Florence's history. The 15th-century Basilica of Santa Maria Novella, with its ornate black and white facade, is just opposite the square, two minutes away. The Cathedral and Duomo are just five minutes away, while other attractions like the Uffizi Gallery and the Accademia Gallery, home of Michelangelo's original David, are just over 10 minutes away. 

The hotel has rooms spread out across three adjacent townhouses, and its traditional design of rich color tones, plush curtains, and vintage furniture gives the feeling of staying in an elegant, old-world home. The two-toned, all-marble bathrooms evoke the Basilica and add a sense of grandeur. Bathrooms include marble tubs and customized products from the 13th-century Santa Maria Novella Pharmacy, the oldest in the world. Rooms with views of the Piazza have an extra bit of romance and history. Various family rooms, such as interconnecting rooms, triples, and apartments, accommodate larger parties.

Facilities include a gym in a room with a very old stone arch, a sauna, and a one-of-a-kind WiFi point in the ruins of an Ancient Roman tub. There's no restaurant, but you can enjoy a drink at the bar or curl up next to the fireplace in one of the pleasant sitting rooms.