Pros

  • Near historic Piazza della Liberta and Porta San Gallo
  • Clean rooms with Nespresso machines, marble bathrooms, and hardwood floors
  • Upgraded rooms have jetted bathtubs and outdoor spaces
  • Charming little garden with pretty plants and flowers
  • Hearty free breakfast buffet with seasonal Tuscan fare
  • Liberty Bar offers drinks and snacks from afternoon until night
  • Staff can arrange day tours and airport transfers
  • Free loaner bicycles available for guests
  • Free Wi-Fi
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Cons

  • Located outside of the city center
  • Complaints of traffic noise in rooms facing busy front street
  • Some decor is dated
  • Hotel lacks a full restaurant
  • Guests report spotty Wi-Fi and faulty in-room safes
  • Gym is tiny
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Bottom Line

The San Gallo Palace is not so much a palace as it is a 56-room, mid-range hotel providing clean, good-sized rooms and some nice perks. A hearty, free breakfast buffet is served daily and guests have access to free loaner bicycles and a tiny fitness center. Rooms offer marble bathrooms, traditional decor, and small flat-screen TVs, but have a somewhat generic look and low-quality bedding. Visitors seeking a quiet stay should request a room facing the courtyard. The property's close proximity to the convention center may appeal to business travelers, while tourists might find the location too remote. Travelers looking to stay closer to Florence’s sights might want to check out the charming, family-run Hotel Il Guelfo Bianco.

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Amenities

  • Cribs
  • Fitness Center
  • Internet
  • Pets Allowed

Oyster Hotel Review

San Gallo Palace

Scene

Traditional hotel with charming garden and classical decorations

The San Gallo Palace Hotel isn't quite a palace, but it's a charming, traditionally styled property. Classical decor is found throughout, from gilded period chairs and artwork in the lobby, to the vaulted brick ceiling in the breakfast room. While these areas are quaint, the bar's peach-leather chairs and wall paneling are just dated. Outdoor areas are lovely -- though expect noise -- with terra-cotta planters and wall hangings, shaded dining furniture, and climbing greenery. The hotel tends to attract couples on vacation who don't mind being removed from Florence’s main sights.

See More Scene

Location

On a busy street outside of Florence's city center

Although situated on a bustling street, the San Gallo Palace Hotel is located outside of the city center and a bit far from most of Florence's most popular tourist sights. It is, however, within close proximity of some decent restaurants that specialize in Tuscan and international cuisine. Additionally, the historic Piazza della Liberta and Porta San Gallo are just a couple minutes' walk away. The hotel also provides easy access to Florence's trade fair and convention district, including the Fortezza da Basso, Palazzo degli Affari, and Palazzo dei Congressi.

Florence is extremely pedestrian-friendly, and is one of Italy's most beautiful cities -- it's more compact, and less gritty, than Rome. The Duomo is the most iconic sight here, but other popular attractions include Michelangelo's "David" at the Galleria dell'Accademia, the works of Botticelli and da Vinci at the Uffizi, and the Ponte Vecchio bridge, which dates back to the 1300s. The Piazza della Signora is a popular tourist hub, and many hotels are located near it.

  • 16-minute drive to Peretola Airport
  • Four-minute drive to to the Galleria dell'Accademia, where Michelangelo's famous David statue is housed
  • Seven-minute drive to Santa Maria Novella train station
  • Seven-minute drive to Santa Croce
  • 10-minute drive to the Duomo, Florence's most famous landmark
  • 10-minute drive or 26-minute walk to Uffizi Gallery, which houses Botticelli's "Birth of Venus"
  • 10-minute drive to Ponte Vecchio
  • 14-minute drive to Boboli Gardens
See More Location

Rooms

Simple, comfortable rooms with Nespresso machines and flat-screen TVs

The 56 rooms are simply and traditionally decorated, featuring hardwood floors, traditional dark-wood furniture, and dated burnt-orange comforters, headboards, drapes, and armchair upholstery. Some rooms have plain white bedding and olive-green throw pillows instead, but keep the rest of the burnt-orange linens. A piece or two of generic artwork decorates each room. Standard Rooms have desks, small flat-screen TVs, air-conditioning, Nespresso machines, and free Wi-Fi. Although safes are in rooms, many guests have commented that theirs didn't work. Higher-category rooms are larger and a few add furnished outdoor terraces that lead out onto the hotel garden. Marble bathrooms have small cubicle showers, free toiletries, wall-mounted hairdryers, and bidets, while Suites have tubs with hydromassage jets. Note that past guests have complained of traffic noise reaching rooms facing the busy street.

See More Rooms

Features

Free buffet breakfast, a bar serving welcome drinks, and tiny gym

As is typical for mid-range Florence hotels, San Gallo Palace is a bit light on amenities. It lacks a full restaurant and wellness facilities, aside from a tiny gym in the garden with a treadmill, weight machine, and stationary bicycle. However, guests generally rave about the free buffet breakfast which consists of bread and pastries, cheeses, fruit, yogurt, and cold meats, as well as cooked eggs and bacon. It's served in a lovely, rustic room with a vaulted brick ceiling. The bar serves light meals and snacks throughout the day, as well as a welcome drink when guests arrive. Staff can arrange day tours and airport transfers, plus guests can use loaner bicycles for free. Wi-Fi is free, but guests have noted that it's spotty. 

See More Features

Oyster Hotel Review

San Gallo Palace

Scene

Traditional hotel with charming garden and classical decorations

The San Gallo Palace Hotel isn't quite a palace, but it's a charming, traditionally styled property. Classical decor is found throughout, from gilded period chairs and artwork in the lobby, to the vaulted brick ceiling in the breakfast room. While these areas are quaint, the bar's peach-leather chairs and wall paneling are just dated. Outdoor areas are lovely -- though expect noise -- with terra-cotta planters and wall hangings, shaded dining furniture, and climbing greenery. The hotel tends to attract couples on vacation who don't mind being removed from Florence’s main sights.

See More Scene

Location

On a busy street outside of Florence's city center

Although situated on a bustling street, the San Gallo Palace Hotel is located outside of the city center and a bit far from most of Florence's most popular tourist sights. It is, however, within close proximity of some decent restaurants that specialize in Tuscan and international cuisine. Additionally, the historic Piazza della Liberta and Porta San Gallo are just a couple minutes' walk away. The hotel also provides easy access to Florence's trade fair and convention district, including the Fortezza da Basso, Palazzo degli Affari, and Palazzo dei Congressi.

Florence is extremely pedestrian-friendly, and is one of Italy's most beautiful cities -- it's more compact, and less gritty, than Rome. The Duomo is the most iconic sight here, but other popular attractions include Michelangelo's "David" at the Galleria dell'Accademia, the works of Botticelli and da Vinci at the Uffizi, and the Ponte Vecchio bridge, which dates back to the 1300s. The Piazza della Signora is a popular tourist hub, and many hotels are located near it.

  • 16-minute drive to Peretola Airport
  • Four-minute drive to to the Galleria dell'Accademia, where Michelangelo's famous David statue is housed
  • Seven-minute drive to Santa Maria Novella train station
  • Seven-minute drive to Santa Croce
  • 10-minute drive to the Duomo, Florence's most famous landmark
  • 10-minute drive or 26-minute walk to Uffizi Gallery, which houses Botticelli's "Birth of Venus"
  • 10-minute drive to Ponte Vecchio
  • 14-minute drive to Boboli Gardens
See More Location

Rooms

Simple, comfortable rooms with Nespresso machines and flat-screen TVs

The 56 rooms are simply and traditionally decorated, featuring hardwood floors, traditional dark-wood furniture, and dated burnt-orange comforters, headboards, drapes, and armchair upholstery. Some rooms have plain white bedding and olive-green throw pillows instead, but keep the rest of the burnt-orange linens. A piece or two of generic artwork decorates each room. Standard Rooms have desks, small flat-screen TVs, air-conditioning, Nespresso machines, and free Wi-Fi. Although safes are in rooms, many guests have commented that theirs didn't work. Higher-category rooms are larger and a few add furnished outdoor terraces that lead out onto the hotel garden. Marble bathrooms have small cubicle showers, free toiletries, wall-mounted hairdryers, and bidets, while Suites have tubs with hydromassage jets. Note that past guests have complained of traffic noise reaching rooms facing the busy street.

See More Rooms

Features

Free buffet breakfast, a bar serving welcome drinks, and tiny gym

As is typical for mid-range Florence hotels, San Gallo Palace is a bit light on amenities. It lacks a full restaurant and wellness facilities, aside from a tiny gym in the garden with a treadmill, weight machine, and stationary bicycle. However, guests generally rave about the free buffet breakfast which consists of bread and pastries, cheeses, fruit, yogurt, and cold meats, as well as cooked eggs and bacon. It's served in a lovely, rustic room with a vaulted brick ceiling. The bar serves light meals and snacks throughout the day, as well as a welcome drink when guests arrive. Staff can arrange day tours and airport transfers, plus guests can use loaner bicycles for free. Wi-Fi is free, but guests have noted that it's spotty. 

See More Features

Best Rates

Amenities

  • Air Conditioner

  • Airport Transportation

  • Balcony / Terrace / Patio

  • Basic Television

  • Business Center

  • Cable

  • Concierge

  • Cribs

  • Fitness Center

  • Free Breakfast

  • Internet

  • Kids Allowed

  • Laundry

  • Meeting / Conference Rooms

  • Mini Bar (with liquor)

  • Pets Allowed

  • Rental Car Service Desk Onsite

  • Room Service

  • Separate Bedroom / Living Room Space

Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.