A Little Luxury Boutique Hotel in Florence Italy

Palazzo Castri 1874 is a boutique luxury hotel, situated within walking distance to Florence’s Mercato Centrale and the city’s main railway station, otherwise referred to as Stazione di Santa Maria Novella.

The hotel is like a little oasis away from the busyness and crowds of tourists that fill this popular Italian city.

Interior of the Hotel

Upon entering the lobby, you are greeted with a lovely and calming aroma and if you are checking in towards the end of the afternoon, you can – as we did – enjoy their complimentary afternoon tea accompanied by some deliciously baked cakes. Perfect for that rumbling stomach and as a small bite ahead of diving into some local Tuscan cuisine for dinner!

Room and Bed

If you’re a fan of modern design, then you will love the elegant and minimalist style that Palazzo Castri exudes. Despite its boutique nature, the hotel always felt reasonably spacious, particularly the junior suite room that we stayed in. The room was separated into two areas: the sitting room and study area, and, the bedroom with ensuite bathroom.

If the trending Danish term “hygge” had an Italian counterpart, this room would be exactly that.

Covered by crisp white ironed sheets and a big, fluffy duvet, the bed was a dream to sleep on especially after a long day of walking around Florence. We had a good night’s sleep here every night and when we come to changing our own mattress, I may just have to ask Palazzo Castri where they sourced theirs from!

The shower in the bathroom had an interesting mood lighting option with a rain shower above, as well as two sinks which we always appreciate.

View from Our Room in Florence

We also had a nice view from our windows out onto the hotel’s large garden courtyard, which featured a heated pool and lush palm trees. Who would’ve thought of having palm trees in the courtyard of a boutique hotel?! A little oasis indeed!

In fact, when you take a walk outside into the courtyard, you will encounter Pino, the house cat who enjoys the attention of the hotel’s residents. It’s a sure winner with young children and those who love being around pets.

Hotel’s Facilities and Breakfast

Back inside the hotel, facilities also include a spa and small fitness centre. Not the biggest of gyms we’ve encountered but sufficient for a workout, which we did during two mornings before breakfast.

Talking of breakfast, Palazzo Castri offers an eclectic mix of hot and cold options, from scrambled eggs and smoked salmon to fresh pastries and cheeses. One thing we particularly found fun, was tasting the fresh honeycomb on display!

Location in Florence Italy

The proximity to Florence’s main railway station makes it easy to jump on a train to explore other surrounding areas of the wider Tuscany region and beyond, or to jump on a local tour as many tour organisers use this station as a meeting point. You can read more about the Chianti wine tasting tour we experienced while we were in Florence.

Our Verdict

We were glad to have discovered this beautiful and relaxing luxury boutique hotel. Not only is it well located (there’s a cosy restaurant serving delicious local cuisine just a few minutes walk away called Ristorante Vecchio Cancello) yet far enough from the busy central areas, it also offers a nice retreat to come back to after a long day of sightseeing, shopping and of course, drinking wine!

This is a hotel we will almost certainly be staying at again on our next visit to this historic city.