La Gemma di Elena

The breakfast was better than I expected from such a small B&B, and actually beat some of the bigger hotel chains I’ve stayed in. It’s also cheap and very central. The rooms are small and pretty plain, but the location makes up for that. It sits right behind Saint Gemma Galgani's "house of the stigmata", which you might be able to visit. Maybe that’s where the name comes from.

We had to stay at an address different from the one we booked, which was a bit uncomfortable. The old staircases are damaged, unfortunately, as the photos show. The hotel is right in the center, so we could walk to the attractions easily. Our room was spacious and clean, parking was available in designated spots behind the hotel, and breakfast was fine.

I was setting out on my Tuscan stretch of the Via Francigena, and this was a lovely place to begin. Gianluca was kind, professional, and welcoming. The room had large windows and a beautiful view, and it was spotless with very comfortable beds. It’s central and convenient for exploring, yet still quiet at night. I loved staying here and would definitely return. Grazie mille!

We’d happily come back. The staff were friendly, and breakfast was good. Our comfortable bed was in apartment #29, owned by the B&B and next door to it. We used two of the three bedrooms, with a small shared kitchen and sitting area. Each bedroom had its own bathroom, which was handy. The location was convenient for everything, and the LAM Rossa bus from the train station stopped just a few feet down the street. One bathroom door had a low ceiling because of the building’s age, so it should be fine if you’re under 6 feet 5 inches.