Palazzo Belfiore

Hotels in Florence are becoming rather expensive, we know, and this is one of the reasons we fell in love with Palazzo Belfiore – an affordable but relaxed way to appreciate the city! By venturing out of a hotel and into one of these lovely apartments set in a 15th century noble house you have far more freedom and all of those pennies you save can be put towards some wonderful meals out.
Firstly then the setting. The apartments are in a quiet street closed to traffic, and I know we get excited sometimes but the position really is wonderful! 200 yards from the Ponte Vecchio, 100 yards from the de’ Medici’s Pitti Palace and beautiful Boboli Gardens and yet in a real, genuine quarter of the city, close to lots of excellent restaurants that are among the most authentic hostelries in Florence! Brunelleschi’s church of the Santo Spirito is just 50 yards away and home to one of the most beautiful yet undiscovered piazzas in the city. What all of this means then is that you can walk everywhere you want and return to one of the most genuine quarters of the city – you really can have it all!
If you look at the photographs you will see that these apartments are about very relaxed comfort. This is not luxury and certainly not boutique design, just somewhere where you could come and feel at home, surrounded by laid-back decoration with history everywhere. Some of the rooms in the apartments still retain frescoes across the walls, others have the high vaulted ceilings in the Florentine style or centuries-old wooden beams. The decoration is rustic in style, simpler rather than pretentious with lots of wood, rugs and terracotta floor tiles to add a great deal of homely charm.
We’ll give you a brief description of each one to get you in the mood! Please note that they all have well-equipped kitchens enabling you to be completely independent and host Tuscan meals at home or eat out as you wish. The apartments are cleaned regularly though of course this is a much more independent option than a hotel so do not expect 24hr concierge service – you will need to make an appointment to pick up and drop off the keys. 30% of the total value is due at booking to confirm the reservation and the hotel requests the balance on the arrival day. All apartments are equipped with satellite television, air conditioning, heating and internet access. Apartment 2, Francesco de’ Medici is particularly noted for its disabled access and ease of use.
APARTMENT 1: BIANCA CAPPELLO (Beds 2+2) A ground floor apartment with 2 single beds on mezzanine level and 14th century frescoes. Ground floor area with double sofa bed. Bathroom with shower. Compact but very homely.
APARTMENT 2: FRANCESCO DE’ MEDICI (Beds 2+2) Ground floor apartment, slightly larger than apartment 1 but again compact with one double bed (2 singles on request) and a double sofa-bed in the sitting/dining area. Bathroom with shower. Suitable for the disabled.
APARTMENT 3: CLARICE (Beds 4+2) First floor, significantly larger than the previous two at 80 square metres. Almost seems like a beautifully decorated chapel with 15th century frescoes adorning the walls. Sitting room with small ensuite kitchenette, double sofa bed. Double bedroom with two large windows, bathroom with bath, washing machine. A second level houses a second bedroom set as a twin (can be changed to a double) with bathroom and shower. APARTMENT 4: LORENZO IL MAGNIFICO (Beds 4+2) First floor, similar in size to apartment 3. Small lounge with double sofa bed and separate sitting/dining area, laundry area with washing machine, kitchenette giving onto small courtyard. Double bedroom with bathroom. Mezzanine level with two single beds, bathroom and separate dressing room. Antique furniture and beautifully restored all round. APARTMENT 5: COSIMIO IL VECCHIO (Beds 4+2) Second floor apartment with a large lounge with double sofa bed. Twin bedroom with bathroom. Mezzanine level with twin bedroom and bathroom. Traditional ambience with all mod cons.
APARTMENT 6: LEONE X (Beds 3+2) Second floor apartment with large double bedroom and one single bedrooms. Two bathrooms. The sitting room also has a double bed. Kitchen with fireplace from the eighteenth century and dishwasher. Wooden beams. Very beautiful. APARTMENT 6: CATERINA DE’ MEDICI (6 Beds) Like Catherine de’ Medici, the Queen! The largest of the apartments and positioned on the third floor with plenty of light and views over the rooftops of Florence. Large dining room and kitchen area with a fireplace from the eighteenth century. Three bedrooms, two bathrooms and a further mezzanine level with views over Brunelleschi’s Santo Spirito church.