Hotel Dante

The slightly retro Hotel Dante, located just five minutes from the Duomo and off of the Via Ghibellina shopping strip, has been a favorite among visiting theatre actors for years. Their autographed headshots add extra charm to the three-star’s cluttered, art-crammed walls.

The Dante’s 14 rooms are a bit small and are all basics. Some have a cruise cabin feel to them, with dark wooden furniture, soft-colored bedding and freshly painted walls. All rooms are equipped with air conditioning, a telephone and minibar; some also have a kitchenette. Bathrooms aren’t spacious either, but are bright with white, clean fixtures.

We especially loved the open, sunny common areas on the main floor. Both the lounge and inner garden are refreshing places to have breakfast (included in the room rate) or a drink. Atypical touches include the low, long couches in the breakfast lounge and tropical plant life galore. The hotel's location, on a silent corner in the shadow of Santa Croce, is quiet and calm.

The common areas have free modem hookups, and Wi-Fi is available in guestrooms for an additional fee.