Hotel La Scaletta

Located in an imposing 15th-century palace, Hotel Restaurant La Scaletta has a prestigious address in the heart of historic Florence, a minutes' walk from the Palazzo Pitti. Past a tall arched entranceway, guests take a tiny, ancient, wrought-iron elevator to the third floor where the hotel's reception area is situated. Narrow corridors are lined with bright red rugs, and the few public spaces are small and sparsely decorated, with terra-cotta floors and bare white walls paired with Tuscan lamps and a few pieces of old-fashioned furniture arranged in sitting areas. The rooftop terrace is one of the hotel’s best features, offering breathtaking views of the city’s rooftops, the iconic dome of the Duomo, the Uffizi Gallery Clock Tower, and the Tuscan hills beyond. With it's central location and pleasant rooms, the hotel mainly attracts vacationing couples. 

Hotel La Scaletta is located in central Florence on a street leading to the Ponte Vecchio, the historic bridge spanning the River Arno and one of the city’s best-known tourist sights, which is only a two-minute walk away. Across the street from the property is the Guicciardini Palace, while the 15th-century Palazzo Pitti is a minutes' walk away. Most top attractions and historic sights are within easy walking distance, including the Uffizi Gallery (five-minute walk) and the Duomo (nine-minute walk). The surrounding neighborhood is vibrant, with many restaurants, bars, shops, and artisans’ workshops to explore, but parking can be a challenge. The main train station, Santa Maria Novella, is about a 15- to 20-minute walk, while Florence Airport can be reached in about 20 minutes by car.

Rooms at the hotel were completely renovated in 2014 and are decorated in two distinct and tasteful styles, described as “modern” and “classic.” The modern rooms feature earthy tones of white and beige or soft gray as well as attractive parquet floors. The spaces are uncluttered, with simple, minimalist furniture, while bathrooms have walk-in showers, bidets, and vessel sinks. Meanwhile, classically-decorated rooms feature heavily patterned floral bedspreads and curtains paired with richly painted furniture. Amenities include air-conditioning, flat-screen TVs, minibars, tea- and coffee-making facilities, memory mattresses, and free Wi-Fi. The Luxury Suites have beautiful decorative features like frescoed ceilings in some and elaborately painted doorways and wood panels, as well as elegant bathtubs in the bedrooms, in addition to spacious walk-in showers in the bathrooms. Suites also have sitting areas and lovely French doors that open up to balconies. Some of the guest rooms overlook an ugly inner courtyard, while those with balconies have a more pleasant view of a landscaped garden. Guests should note that some rooms are advertised as having a view of the Boboli Gardens behind Palazzo Pitti, but they are partially obstructed by a three-story building.

The hotel's top feature is its rooftop restaurant and bar, offering stunning panoramic views of the Florentine skyline. Open for lunch and dinner from May to September, the restaurant offers a menu of classic Italian cuisine. The terrace is open year round, so guests can take in the stunning views even when the restaurant is closed. A continental-style breakfast is available for an extra fee and served in the rustic-style breakfast room. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the property. Other basic services offered by the hotel include luggage storage, concierge, 24-hour porter service, babysitting, laundry, dry cleaning, ironing, fax and photocopying, and a wake-up service.