Villino Il Leone

Sylvia and Leo were so generous, kind, and helpful. We arrived with two young children, and they made us feel welcome. The villa looks amazing, with spacious rooms, a spotless bathroom, and an amazing breakfast. The location works well for staying in Florence or exploring Tuscany. Piazzale Michelangelo is very close, and the view is amazing. We definitely want to come back. Lina, Pete, Charlie & Henry

The villa sits on the outskirts of Florence, with an amazing view over the valley. Birds sang every morning, and the air was fresh. It’s a quiet, family owned place away from the bustle of Firenze, with stylish interiors and owners who are genuinely friendly and attentive to your comfort. We stayed five nights and had a wonderful stay. My fiancé and I enjoy walking, so we loved the pleasant streets and lanes. It takes about 20-30 minutes on foot to reach downtown, and public buses are available too. Breakfast was tasty, with eggs, toast, flakes, yogurt, fresh baked buns and croissants, cherry tomatoes, cheese, ham, fresh juice, and real coffee. The room was light and cozy, with a mini fridge and kettle. The bathroom had a shower cabin, heated towel rail, toiletries, and a hair dryer. There was also an extra electric heater and a safe, and the Wi-Fi worked fine. The bed was comfortable, though a bit noisy, with what felt like a film under the sheets. One drawback: we were there at the beginning of March, when it was still chilly outside. The heating seemed to be regulated externally, and the room was rather cold during the day. The tiled floors were cold too, so slippers might have helped.

Silvia and her crew made every effort to keep us comfortable, including helping with breakfast and carrying our luggage. This family run villa has updated rooms that still keep their Villa charm, with lovely wood floors, real wood shutters, and privacy screens with two separate glass panes. It felt safe and secure, with an enclosed front courtyard to relax in. At check-in you get three keys, for the front gate, front door, and room. The location is close to Firenze. It’s a 10 minute walk to the gate, then another 10 minutes to Ponte Vecchio. There’s on street parking. The busy Senese street brings a convenient location but also some traffic noise, which didn’t bother me much. Just a great stay in a place with real vintage character. Thanks, Silvia and crew.

We had a great stay. The staff were friendly, the room was spacious, clean, and thoughtfully laid out, and the A/C worked well. Our suite had a kitchen with everything we needed, and parking was easy. Ponte Vecchio is about a 25 minute walk away, which feels like a lot in hot weather. I’d suggest driving and parking closer to cut the walk to the center about in half. We didn’t take the bus because it looked like we’d need to transfer anyway.