Antica Torre di Via Tornabuoni 1

We booked Antica Torre through Chase Travel for our honeymoon, staying from 10/17/25 - 10/22/25. When we arrived, we were warmly greeted and shown to our room. The receptionist said they were short staffed and couldn’t finish explaining the room and how the spa worked. That evening at the rooftop bar, we were again told staffing was low and advised not to order food. We hadn’t planned to eat there anyway, and the rooftop view was stunning, so we enjoyed the time up there. On the second night, as we rode down in the elevator, we heard a sound like a cable snapping. We fell from the 6th floor to a point between the 2nd and 3rd. We both fell on impact, and I injured my ankle, though we didn’t realize it until maintenance staff helped us climb out about 20 minutes later. They offered an ice pack and asked whether we wanted a taxi to a doctor. We don’t speak much Italian, so we called our doctor back home for advice. With his help, we concluded it was a sprain and went to a pharmacy for a brace. I could limp there, and because this was our honeymoon, we didn’t want to miss our plans waiting for a doctor to do the same thing. The receptionist told us she’d noticed a noise from the elevator while taking guests up five minutes before we got in, but had to return to the desk because she was the only one working. We felt we were victims of staffing shortages and the staff’s inability to follow any kind of safety protocol. What upset us most was the response afterward. I was sitting there having a panic attack after getting out, but the receptionist said she was short staffed and needed to get back to the desk. As the weekend went on, the only contact we had with anyone was when I limped down six flights from our room to ask if they wanted to call a doctor. We repeatedly said we’d spoken with our doctor back home and believed it was a sprain. We finally spoke with the manager two days after the incident, and she was incredibly rude. She said there wasn’t much she could do since we hadn’t gone to a doctor there. Apart from the ice pack, nothing was offered at first. After we argued with the manager, who said “this could've happened anywhere,” we got a bottle of prosecco and a bowl of fruit that evening, two days after the incident. They later removed the drinks we’d ordered on the first night from our bill after checkout, but offered no other compensation. We were excited to book a 4 star hotel for our honeymoon and expected the hospitality that normally comes with that. Our stay was anything but. The hotel is clearly understaffed, and we believe that led to serious safety issues. We were lucky Massimo was nearby when we fell. He was the only employee who seemed to truly care about our wellbeing. Please beware. This hotel wasn’t what it seemed to us. In the manager’s response, she said it could happen anywhere. But the receptionist had told us the elevator failed in May (2025), then again when we were in it in October (2025). It may happen anywhere, but it happened twice at this hotel that year.

The location is great. And if you like sleeping in 75 degree rooms while the desk insists your broken AC is fine, then brings you a fan at midnight, you’ll absolutely love it.

We stayed at nine hotels around Italy, and Antica Torre gave us the best value at the lowest price. Our library junior suite, requested with a river view, was better than we expected: a fantastic view, enclosed shower, separate wardrobe closets, and a big bathroom. The staff were great, breakfast was tasty, and we enjoyed a spritz on the roof. It’s central to everything. One tip: bring a noise machine and earplugs. Without them, we would’ve heard street noise below at night.

From the 5th floor, room 525 looked out over the Arno River. It was modest in size, but the decor was charming, the bed comfy, and we could stream shows. The tall window opened all the way for fresh air and the view, and the a/c worked well, which isn’t true of every Florence hotel. The staff were exceptional, especially manager Davide. Breakfast was scrumptious, and the dining room had exquisite views. We also loved the roof terrace, with its seating, potted flowers, and almost 360° views of Florence. The heart of the city is right outside, with a bridge across the river nearby. We enjoyed nightly street opera in the piazza next to the hotel. We loved this boutique hotel, and it was a big part of how much we enjoyed our first Florence visit. I hope we’re lucky enough to return.