Hotel Axial

Set one foot outside of the three-star Hotel Axial, and you’ll join the flood of tourist traffic flowing between the Duomo and Piazza della Signoria. The central location means a bit of chaos, but the hotel is pretty and calm inside. We loved the cheery yellow tones in the halls, a perfect complement to the original artwork from the Maioli family’s own collection.

The Axial’s 14 rooms are mid-sized, with terracotta floors, basic motel furniture and blue and yellow accents. Original touches like diamond-shaped detailing on the headboards and more pieces from the family art collection warm up the otherwise standard feel. The rooms come equipped with air conditioning, satellite TV and a mini-fridge.

Bathrooms are on the small side, with green tiling and standard amenities such as a hair dryer and toiletries.

The Axial also has an adorable little bar/café with patio seating in the inner garden, perfect for mid-afternoon pick-me-up. The staff is incredibly warm and friendly, and insisted that we mention their breakfast specialty: iced cappuccinos!