Villa Azalee

The atmosphere of this 1870 villa on the historic center's edge, with its prizewinning flowers, soundproof rooms, and comfortable beds, makes you forget the eight lanes of traffic flowing a few dozen feet away along Florence's inner ring road. You'll find a sunroom in the main villa, tapestries on the walls, and a very friendly staff. The rooms are floral print-oriented -- perfect for Laura Ashley buffs, but for others the pink taffeta and gauzy canopies might seem over-the-top. The old scuderia (stables) out back were reconstructed in a hybrid Italian-English style, and many of the rooms there evoke a cozy Cotswolds cottage. The best accommodations are on the scuderia's ground floor, with heavy beamed ceilings, and on the villa's first (upper) floor, with wood floors, sleigh beds, and Empire bathrooms. I'd give it another star if only it weren't so far from the action.

Facilities:
Bike rental (3€ a day); concierge; Internet connection in lobby; room service

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.