Hotel Donatello

It was clean

Occasionally very limited choice of food for breakfast as there were more people than food

Hotel Donatello, Florence – Review I really enjoyed my stay at Hotel Donatello in Florence. It offers very good value for money and is in a fantastic location for exploring the city, while still being in a lovely, quiet little area. The hotel is situated on a charming traditional Italian piazza, with a small park in the centre. It isn't a huge square, but that is part of its appeal. Families use the park, and it has a lovely, relaxed local feel. The hotel itself overlooks this peaceful setting, making it a particularly pleasant place to come back to after a day exploring Florence. The location couldn't be more convenient. From Florence's main railway station, it is an incredibly simple walk of around 10 minutes: cross the road, turn a corner and walk straight through the lovely park, and you're there. It's also brilliantly placed for the main sights. The walk towards the Accademia Gallery and the magnificent Statue of David is very straightforward, while the Duomo is just a little further on. Continue from there and you're soon at the Uffizi Gallery and Piazza della Signoria. Most of the major sights are within around 10–15 minutes' walking distance. What I particularly liked was that the hotel isn't right in the middle of the busiest tourist area. You can wander through some lovely little Florentine streets on the way to the sights and discover all sorts of restaurants, cafés, bars and takeaway places along the route. There are options to suit every budget. I found a lovely little restaurant called Anime just up the road from the hotel, which was a real gem. The staff at Hotel Donatello were absolutely lovely — friendly, welcoming and genuinely helpful. I had messaged ahead to ask whether I could leave my luggage as I was arriving before check-in. When I arrived, they told me that they were expecting me and, even better, that my room was already ready. That was incredibly helpful after travelling.

There was aircon, much needed, but it did not come on until my third night, so I didn't realise it was an option. So if you need it on, ask!

Spacious and clean Great breakfast

Good value, nice view overlooking the park. Staff very pleasant. Good sized room. A view of the top of the Duomo from the room- just!

Breakfast not great. Pillow and bed uncomfortable.