Villino il Magnifico

Villino il Magnifico has been a great choice for a short stop in Florence on the way south for several years. It's clean and pleasant, with no unnecessary extras, and reasonably close to the city center.

The owner was kind and courteous, and the prices are very affordable. This small B&B sits just beyond central Florence, but the center is still a ten-minute walk away. The rooms are comfortable and well equipped. Breakfast comes as a buffet in a small common room, with a good range of choices and especially tasty desserts. The one drawback is the room air conditioning: you can switch it on or off, but can't adjust the temperature. Highly recommended.

The room was the standout for us. We were lucky to get one with carved furniture, which felt really special. Breakfast was good, and the paid private parking is ideal in Florence. When we arrived, we got all the directions we needed for supermarkets, cafés and restaurants. We tried three of the seven places suggested, and liked all three. It's a bit of a walk to the center, as planned. The one downside is the very noisy air conditioner. In summer, that means choosing between a hot night and a noisy one. You can avoid noticing the noise if you're tired enough from a day out, which isn't hard in Florence with so much to see. We left with only good memories.

We felt very comfortable at this cute little hotel. The service was excellent, and the tips for things to do away from the tourist crowds were great. We'd love to come back.