Hotel Locanda Orchidea

Though it’s situated in the heart of Florence, the family-run Hotel Locanda Orchidea provides a quiet respite from city-center chaos. With seven simple rooms in a historic building the Orchidea is a homey escape.

Each room is warm and welcoming, with old-fashioned quilts, rose-and-white sponge-painted walls and touches of greenery. Interior rooms look out onto a small garden, while street-facing rooms offer small alcoves (for watching the pedestrians below). There is charm here, but those looking for a room with the works should look elsewhere: These have fans instead of air conditioning, and the only television and mini-fridge are in a common room.

The shared bathrooms are comfortably sized and very clean, with standard boxed showers and blue-and-white tiles. Each room has a sink and mirror for washing up, and a few have small in-room showers as well.

The second-floor Orchidea is situated on a quiet pedestrian thoroughfare, about halfway between Santa Croce and the Duomo. History enthusiasts take note: The medieval Donati tower in which the hotel resides was the family residence of Dante’s wife. Original frescoes greet guests as they enter, and the hotel displays an assortment of sketches and photographs showing how the neighborhood has changed over the years.

The Orchidea definitely has the homey thing down. Its sunny TV lounge is packed with artwork, books and comfy leather furniture for enjoying them. Tea and coffee are complimentary throughout the day.

Note that the hotel does not have Internet or Wi-Fi.