A personal guide to authentic experiences
from a veteran travel journalist
Authentic Luxury Travel
[promoslider id="my_id" category="topbanner" height="200px"]
  • Home
  • About Elizabeth
    • Published Articles
  • Authentic Luxury Travel
  • Book A Trip
  • Contact
  • Get Involved
    • Advertise
    • Contribute a Guest Post
    • Keep in Touch
    • Leave a Comment, Ask a Question
    • Plan a Getaway “Contest”
    • Send a Photo
    • Share a Travel Book or Movie
    • Write a Trip Report
  • Map of Posts by Location
  • Trip Planning
  • Africa
    • Botswana
    • Safaris
    • South Africa
    • Tanzania
    • Zambia
  • Air Travel
  • Antarctica
  • Asia
    • Bhutan
    • Cambodia
    • China
    • Indonesia
    • Japan
    • Myanmar
    • Vietnam
  • Australia
    • Great Barrier Reef
    • Sydney
  • Authentic Travel
  • Canada
    • Alberta
    • British Columbia
      • Vancouver
    • Newfoundland
  • Central America
    • Costa Rica
    • Guatemala
    • Mexico
  • Cruises
  • Europe
    • Czech Republic
    • England
    • Finland
    • France
    • Germany
    • Greece
    • Italy
    • Latvia
    • Poland
    • Scotland
    • Spain
    • The Netherlands
    • Turkey
  • Hotels
  • India
  • Islands
    • Bermuda
    • Caribbean
    • Fiji
    • French Polynesia
    • Hawaii
    • Ibiza, Spain
    • Maldives
    • Palau
    • Sir Bani Yas, Abu Dhabi
  • Middle East
    • Abu Dhabi
    • Dubai
  • New Zealand
  • South America
    • Brazil
    • Galapagos
    • Peru
  • Special Interest Trips
    • Ancestry travel
    • Bucket List Travel
    • Classic Car Adventures
    • Destination Weddings & Honeymoons
    • fall colors
    • Family Travel
    • food tours
    • garden visits
    • Golf Vacations
    • Learning Vacations
      • Cooking schools
    • national holidays
    • Performing Arts
      • concerts
      • opera
    • Pet-Friendly Travel
    • Rafting
    • Recipes
    • Romantic Destinations
    • Shopping
    • Snorkeling and Scuba Diving
    • Spa Vacations
    • surfing
    • Walking vacations
    • Wildlife Watching
    • Winter Holidays
    • Women's Travel
  • Staying Healthy
    • Dealing with Illness and Discomfort
    • Eating and Drinking
    • Insects
    • Mind and Spirit
    • Packing
    • Problem Prevention
    • Travelling with Kids
  • Travel Experts
  • U. S. Travel
    • National Parks
    • USA Eastern States
    • USA Midwestern States
    • USA Southern States
    • USA Southwest
    • USA Western States
      • Alaska
      • Central California
      • Montana
      • Northern California
      • Oregon
      • Southern California
      • Utah
      • Washington
  • Vacation Rentals
  • Voluntourism

Florence Italy – Grand Hotels and Palaces

October 29, 2014 | Updated: January 26, 2015 | By Elizabeth | 2 Replies More
Florence Italy is home to Hotel Degli Orafi where EM Forster wrote A ROOM WITH A VIEW.

Florence Italy is home to Hotel Degli Orafi where EM Forster wrote A ROOM WITH A VIEW.

Florence Italy is a favorite destination of reader Art Moldavia, so it isn’t surprising that this is the third Firenze guest post he has contributed to Authentic Luxury Travel. In case you missed the others, take a moment to go back and read Florence Cooking Lessons and a Recipe and Authentic Florence – Places to Eat.

Long the home to royalty, Florence features many palaces and private villas that have been converted into hotels. I recommend these hotels to anyone who fancies the finer things in life.

Grand Hotel Villa Medici is an eleant 18th-century villa in Florence Italy.

Grand Hotel Villa Medici is an elegant 18th-century villa in Florence Italy.

Grand Hotel Villa Medici…

is an 18th-Century former residence of the Medici family who led Florence for ages. The hotel is located in the old city center, within walking distance from most of the major museums and attractions. The hotel’s 88 royal rooms and 15 elegant suites all feature original antique furnishings and tapestries. The elegant Penthouse Suite has a royal ambiance and features its own private pool on the terrace.

Guests love the hotel’s “super-helpful” staff, good views from the higher floors, balcony rooms and pool-facing rooms, and having a choice of décor – classic or modern. The Grand Hotel Villa Medici is a ten-minute walk from the city center, but guests can ask for a ride in the hotel’s courtesy car.

Click here to get the best rate at Grand Hotel Villa Medici.

Address: Via il Prato 42, Florence Italy.

Hotel Degli Orafi, Florence Italy.

Hotel Degli Orafi, Florence Italy.

Hotel degli Orafi …

is an 11th-Century tower and 14th Century convent that offers spectacular views of the Arno River and famous Ponte Vecchio (“Old Bridge”). EM Forster wrote his famous novel A Room with A View while staying at this elegant and romantic hotel on the north bank of the Arno. Later, James Ivory shot the film version of the story here.

The extravagant grand dining salon is the hotel’s elegant centerpiece, with crystal chandeliers, tapestries and a wonderful view of the Arno. Guests also love the view of the Arno River and the Duomo from the rooftop bar which offers both indoor and outdoor seating. Some guest rooms also have views of the river. They are a bit pricier but “worth it.” The Chimera suites are popular with families and a group of friends traveling together. Everyone raves about the staff.

Click here to get the best rate at Hotel degli Orafi.

Address: Lungarno Archibusieri 4, Florence Italy.

If you’re headed to Florence Italy, don’t miss these great tips. Need more space that a hotel can provide? Check out this wonderful three-bedroom apartment.

Buon viaggio,

Elizabeth Hansen

www.ElizabethHansen.net

Grand hotels in Florence Italy often have large marble bathrooms - like this one at Hotel Degli Orafi.

Grand hotels in Florence Italy often have large marble bathrooms – like this one at Hotel Degli Orafi.

 

Tags: accommodation, deluxe, Firenze, Florence, Florencia, grand hotels, hotel, hotels, Italian, Italy, lodging, luxurious, luxury, Palaces, places to stay, tourism, travel, traveling, Tuscany

Category: Hotels, Italy

Subscribe

If you enjoyed this article, subscribe to receive more just like it.

Privacy guaranteed. We never share your info.
Subscribe via RSS Feed Follow Me on Twitter Connect on Facebook Connect on Google Plus Connect on LinkedIn

Comments (2)

Trackback URL | Comments RSS Feed

  1. Francois says:
    November 6, 2014 at 1:32 pm

    I would also recommend the Firenze Number Nine, the best surprise I had in Europe since a long time !

    Reply
  2. Florence Hotel degli Orafi says:
    September 29, 2015 at 3:16 am

    Thank your for review our hotel!

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Click here to cancel reply.

« Best Time To Go To New Zealand
First Time in Europe – Journey to Connection »

Subscribe

Join me and discover the joy of authentic travel experiences. Subscribe here. Watch your inbox for an activation email.

Privacy guaranteed. We never share your info.
[jr_instagram id="2"]
Let our Boutique Hotels inspire you
Discover the ancient and magical culture of  Peru
Discover Vietnams hidden treasures with the help of a private tour guide
Spectaular Italian Villas and homes for rent

Need Help Planning Your Trip?

I enjoy helping travelers plan custom itineraries that wander off the beaten path instead of following the well-worn trail of tourist sites. Elizabeth Hansen
Find out how I can help .

"I truly want to thank you for helping to make our trip a joyous adventure. We will always be grateful to you for enhancing our experiences." —N. Higgins, Black Mountain, NC

Find Authentic Luxury Destinations

Click the map to find articles and travel tips about your favorite destinations.

Subscribe via RSS Feed Follow Me on Twitter Connect on Facebook Connect on Google Plus Connect on LinkedIn
© 2023 Authentic Luxury Travel. All rights reserved. Design & Development by Acorn Interactive.