Hotel Villa Gabriele D’Annunzio

Housed in a beautiful four-story building that used to be a convent, the hotel's traditional interiors are simple and austere, with red cotto floors and wood panelling covering the walls. The property is surrounded by a big lush garden dotted with several stone statues and concrete benches. The small lobby is filled with a collection of semi-circular black armchairs and a mix of neoclassic elements like statues and paintings in ornate frames as well as bouquets of fake flowers. The resulting aesthetic will not suit all tastes. The breakfast area has a similar feel, ensconced in wood panelling and tiled floors, and filled with small tables clad in white tablecloths, with the requisite oil paintings adorning the walls. The town is home to the main training center of the national soccer team, so journalists following the team and the players' families are frequent guests.  

The hotel is located in a green, residential neighborhood called Coverciano, a suburb of Florence with many shops and restaurants, but quiet and far from touristed areas. Central Florence is easy to reach by bus, however, which gives access to the Duomo or Santa Maria Novella train station in about 30 minutes. (The bus stop is a six-minute walk from the hotel.) The city of Fiesole, on a hill with a breathtaking views of Florence, is a 10-minute drive away. There is a good pizzeria within a five-minute walk of the hotel and several other cafes, restaurants, and shops can be reached on foot. It’s a 25-minute drive to Florence Peretola Airport, or over an hour by bus.

Ranging from small singles to spacious triples, all rooms are decorated in simple Tuscan tradition with red cotto tiled floors, large wooden desks, and damask patterned bedspreads and decorative pillows that match the upholstered chairs. Mint-green headboards, nightstands, and wardrobes are a bit incongruous with the rest of the decor, but pleasant. All rooms have small flat-screen TVs, mini-fridges, and free Wi-Fi access. Some rooms have showers, which are narrow and a little cramped, and some have tubs with an oddly shaped showerhead that can lead to a lot of water on the floor around the partial door. Views from the rooms are mainly of the garden around the hotel.    

The hotel is surrounded by a lovely garden with a small outdoor pool that's open seasonally. A free breakfast is served in the breakfast room adjoining the lobby and includes several types of meat, pastries, breads, hard-boiled eggs, coffee, and juice. There's also a small bar that sells wine and beer, as well as a conference center available for events and presentations. There's ample free outdoor parking around the hotel, and Wi-Fi is free, but service is reportedly spotty.