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A very sweet sister led us through the sunlit corridors of this 30-room convent on quiet Via Borgo Pinti. The road by itself is a calm escape from the tourist madness, and has some fabulous vintage shopping to boot. And just when you thought things couldn't be calmer, this 30-room missionary-run structure embodies tranquility like no other.
This 14th-century palazzo was once the home of an architectually ambitious noble Florentine family with deep pockets. The wide hallways, long windows, lush inner garden, and arched entryways throughout the corridors all express the building's essential grandeur.
These days there's a no nun-sense sense of hospitality and design afoot, with sleek modern vases, white wood, and an almost modern minimalist overall feel. The sisters have strayed from the usual conventesque art décor, keeping crucifixes and religious images to a minimum.
Rooms are small, and well lit. Delicately decorated in simple antique wooden furniture and cheerful, yellow-striped bedding, the effect is warm and cozy. Bathrooms are either en suite or private, with reserved facilities located just across the hall. They're clean as a whistle, with shiny blue tiles, bathtubs, and removable showerheads.
The ladies do keep a tight midnight curfew in place, so keep your shenanigans outdoors.
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