A Restored Renaissance Palace
About the hotel
Who: Palazzo dal Borgo
Where: Via della Scala 6, Santa Maria Novella, 50123 Florence, Italy
What: A boutique heritage hotel that belonged to the Medici dal Borgo family, located just across the road from the church of Santa Maria Novella.
Room Type: Double Room
First Impressions
This was our first hotel stay in Florence and we booked it due to its proximity to the train station (it is only about a 5 minute walk from the station) but on arrival we realised the location is incredible – a few steps away from Basilica of Santa Maria Novella. The lobby is small but beautifully presented, and when we arrived there was no wait to be checked in.
The Look
The heritage of the building is well preserved and you can imagine what it must have been like to visit a century ago. The features of the hotel are in no way luxurious, but it is well-kept. The decor of the hotel feels old-world and fits perfectly with the Renaissance style of the building.
The Room
The room we were staying in had a long hallway entrance, and a smaller room off to the side that was like a walk-in-wardrobe to store your suitcase and hang your clothing. The room was a good size and the bathroom had been renovated. There was an excellent aircon system that was strong enough to cool us down during the long and hot summer days of Florence.
The bathroom window had views of the church of Santa Maria Novella and the room had views onto the inner courtyard from the Juliette balcony which was a great way to get light into the room while keeping the room quiet.
The Facilities
There are not many facilities in this hotel that you would stick around during the day for, but I highly recommend heading to the Internal garden / courtyard for breakfast or a drink.
The Food & Drink
We had our breakfasts in the courtyard and it was such a beautiful spot to enjoy the mornings. It is quiet and intimate, and the perfect spot to spend a lazy summer morning before the sun comes over the buildings. They have a whole range of cakes for breakfast and some vegan options, albeit limited options (they have soy milk). However they had lots of fresh fruits, which is always a plus!
The Location
Apart from the architecture and decor of Hotel Palazzo dal Borgo, the biggest selling point of this hotel is the location. You are right on the edge of the inner city so it will only take you a few minutes to get to wherever you need to go.
The first morning we spent here, we got up early and after breakfast in the courtyard, we headed out to see some of the busiest sites before the crowds started forming. We walked down at Ponte Vecchio in just ten minutes and were able to wander the area before visiting Uffizi Gallery as soon as it opened.
At night, we would be spending the long evening at Trattoria Zà Zà, but no need to book an Uber back to Hotel Palazzo dal Borgo – it was only a ten minute walk. See what I’m saying? This hotel’s location is it. Looking for more travel ideas in Florence?
how to book Hotel Palazzo dal Borgo, Florence
My favourite way to book hotels is through Booking.com. Booking.com offers a price guarantee (even when not paying upfront and paying at the hotel), they match prices, and they also offer a wide range of rooms with benefits (like afternoon tea and breakfast). Click to see the availability for Hotel Palazzo dal Borgo.
VERDICT
My Grade:
3.5/5
High point of my stay:
Being able to pop back into my hotel room in between sights to get some of that sweet, sweet, aircon (August in Florence is a killer).
Low point of my stay:
The bed needed a serious upgrade.
Who would love to stay at Hotel Palazzo dal Borgo?
I think Hotel Palazzo dal Borgo would be suited to singles and couples who have come to Florence to do some sightseeing and want somewhere to stay that reflects the beautiful Florentine style of the city.
Did this article speak to you?
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