From the outside, Hotel Annalena looks like your classic Florentine hotel — charming, historic, tucked away in a lovely spot. But what really makes it stand out is the staff, and in particular, the fabulous Anna (no relation to the hotel name… or so she says! 😄). Anna was an absolute star from the moment I arrived. Not only was she full of brilliant recommendations (seriously, trust her food tips — we ate very well thanks to her), but she made us feel instantly at home. She had a great sense of humour and managed to keep things running smoothly while still having a laugh and joke with us. I was travelling with four female friends, and she even joked about being impressed I’d managed to surround myself with such good company — I told her it was all down to charm, of course! 😉 She kindly let them drop their bags in my room while they waited for their own accommodation to become available, which was such a thoughtful touch and really appreciated. All in all, the hotel itself is lovely, but it’s people like Anna who make the experience unforgettable. Would happily come back just for the warm welcome alone!

We arrived late but had no trouble getting in because of the excellent instructions. Our room was quiet and comfortable and the property was very impressive with high arched ceilings, paintings and sculptures like those you would find in a museum. You could feel the centuries of history throughout the property. We really enjoyed staying here. Great location, too.

Receptionist on desk was excellent. Without hesitation she carried our suitcases up and down the stairs as there was no lift. No lift was due to its historical classification. Room was lovely. Location was excellent. Thank you for a great stay.

The staff is very professional, respectful and is giving you a very warm welcome with good information about all the beauty Florence has to offer. The home is where the heart is - the Annalena hotel gives you this homey feeling and at the same time you are in the midst from all the excitement, best food, gorgeous gardens and the spectacular museums Florence has to offer. I will strongly recommend this hotel. The hotel itself has as well a very interesting history with many famous Italian residents. The architecture of the hotel with the amazing high ceilings gives you the feeling of living in a master piece painting itself.

Everything was excellent. I have no negative comments.

Its easily within walking distance of the historical tourist center. The hotel was clean and quiet. Staff was awesome and Anna had a big smile for us everyday. The property has a long and wonderful history to it. Its still has some of the frescoes that were part of the design and the ceiling in the common room is outstanding.

Walls are very thin. You can easily hear discussions in the room next door or "activities" next door (thank goodness my teenager lives with his earbuds). There is no elevator, which is a long walk up those once grand stairs. Also, no access to the back garden although some might get a view from their windows. Breakfast was so so.

I have stayed in Florence many times in differnt hotels (and hostels). This might be my favorite: the staff was incredibly nice and always wanted to help and make the stay as good as possible. The bed as nice, as was the bathroom. I prefer the Oltrano area of Florence, where this hotel is, yet it is still easy to quickly reach the other side (with the main station, dome, etc). For me it was the perfect place to get to everywhere I wanted to go. The room has beautiful tiles on the floor, a large wardrobe and an AC as well.

The TV had some signal issues (not really a big deal when on holiday)

The location, it is a bit more quiet, which is good, but yet nearby the centre. The character of the building, it looked like a palazzo or museum. The decoration of the room, in the same characteristic style. The view to the garden (you have to book it extra), great for a quiet breathing moment after a long day in the busy city centre. The airco, a necessity when the days get hot in Firenze. Fridge in the room, nice to cool some beers or prosecco, so you can enjoy them in peace, after a busy day. Breakfast was rather basic, but everything you need was there. Maybe there should have been some more fruit, but that is just a minor remark. I liked the breakfast area, like you were in a museum, rather than a random hotel. And the girls at the reception were so nice.

OK, maybe the bathroom could have been a bit larger, but is was not a problem for me. Be reminded: there is no elevator, and there are some steps before you reach the hotel. So if you have a problem with stairs, think twice.

Beautiful, slightly worn by history, romantic, location away from the fray but an easy walk to central district as well as less populated oltr’Arno neighborhoods. This place is not for everyone- it’s not glitzy, modern, or corporate in any way. It is a remnant from another era when writers and artists stayed here and used the still present fireplaces for warmth. I love the connection to history and the romance of a place that still uses physical keys in worn doors. There’s no elevator, so you must bring your bags up the wide stone stairs and this is fine the strong girl at the desk dragged up our heaviest bag with a smile…, it is the old Florence, the opposite of modern, sterile, and corporate.

Hotel Annalena is a great discovery and I hope to return. What makes it special is above all its authenticity. It has been a Renaissance palazzo, a monastery, and for the past hundred years a pensione (very much breathing the 'Room-with-a-View'-spirit!). You become a Florence resident for the time of your stay - opening the big portone, finding your way up the vast staircase, waking up to the sound of birds, the swallows and swifts soaring around the buildings and the scent of the gardens that used to belong to the palazzo or the Boboli Gardens just opposite. Peace just eight minutes away from the Arno and five minutes from vibrant Piazza Santo Spirito. Then there is the lovely young team who have recently taken on the creative task of gently updating a traditional pensione in a listed building, where the remnants of old frescoes are lovingly preserved and the memories of previous visitors are cherished. Being part of that as a visitor is exciting, to hear these young people's ideas, to sense how they love the building.

The Hotel is a typical, traditional place behind a huge wooden door. The girls on reception, Anna and Yolanda were excellent hosts, giving us plenty of tips and their local knowledge (ask them where to get the best ice cream). The very quiet room overlooked the garden and even though there was a fairly busy road at the front the sound didn't reach us at all. The shower was powerful (and plenty of hot water) and the hairdryer was a powerful model. The breakfast choice was good, although after the first morning we decided to grab a bite Florentine-style at one of the many local cafes as we made our way out for the day. The location was perfect - 50yds from an entrance to the Boboli Gardens, just a short walk down the road from the Pitti Palace and on to the Ponte Vecchio.

There wasn't much that we didn't like. I think there were only very minor things like the kettle that seemed to have a mind of its own switching off during heating occasionally, but that wasn't a great issue and we put it down to a quirk of our holiday! Perhaps some coffee sachets would have been nice in the room, but we were always able to grab some as we went through reception so again, not an issue.