Florence Great Values

Small, friendly, beautifully decorated and reasonably priced, this is the most conveniently located (though slightly more expensive) of five similar bed & breakfast properties with a homey feel. Think six cozy bedrooms with hardwood floors, silk-canopied four-poster beds, and colorful upholstery. Guests with small children can request a cot, bottle warmer and even toys. For further comfort, the hotel offers 21st-century amenities like air conditioning, WiFi, mini-fridge, and flat-screen TVs.

Officially classified as a "Residenza d'epoca" (tourist accommodation in a period setting), the recently renovated Palazzo Galletti offers nine stylish rooms ranging from doubles to quadruples and suites, all with king-size bed, individually controlled air conditioning, soundproof walls, satellite TV, mini bar, personal safe, and a quiet balcony. The rooms are named after the Roman Gods - Mercury, Venus, Cerere, Mars, Saturn, Jupiter, Neptune, Uranus, and Pluto. Some of them have original frescoes with mythological scenes, but well chosen contemporary details mitigate the grandeur. Breakfast is served in the vaulted room that once was the palace kitchen.

Two-star Alessandra is a 27-roomer occupying the second floor of a palace built at the start of the 16th Century by Baccio D'Agnolo, one of the leading Florentine architects of the time. Rooms are bright and spacious, though some have shared bathrooms. The Palazzo is on a fairly quiet side street within easy reach of all the major shopping and sightseeing spots in town – you’ll be steps away from designer boutiques like Prada and Gucci on via Tornabuoni.

It occupies a medieval palazzo near the Ponte Vecchio and is loaded with ornate frescoes, parquet floors, chandeliers, gold mirrors, beamed ceilings, and giant, freestanding wardrobes.

Originally the headquarters of the town's top magistrate and prison, the Bargello became a museum in 1865 and now houses the most comprehensive collection of Donatello’s sculptural works, plus pieces by other Renaissance greats like Cellini, Verrocchio, Giambologna, Ghiberti, Brunelleschi, and Michelangelo. The ticket is a bargain and queues are nonexistent. Closed 2nd and 4th Mondays.

An unpretentious two-star hotel, but in such a prime position in an old building right by the Duomo that its 14 rooms are in great demand! To compensate for the lack of frills, there are some nice pieces of period furniture and basic modern amenities like air conditioning, color TV, private baths (some with marble finishes), and free WiFi. The old elevator may be temperamental at times but the second floor isn't such a climb anyway.

Named after the famous cocktail invented in Florence by Count Negroni, this tiny bar in the San Niccolò area of the Oltrarno (upstream from the Ponte Vecchio) is always packed. Weekends feature lounge and electronica music (compiled on CDs, a la Buddha Bar) and the place gets so busy that the partying spreads to the sidewalk and leafy square opposite.

This Carioca-themed venue is another longstanding favorite. On most nights you can enjoy a Brazilian buffet dinner followed by a live act for a bargain set price. Stay on for some late night dancing when the bar becomes a Latin disco venue after midnight (further charge applies).