Brunelleschi, Florence

About Brunelleschi

Just moments away from the Piazza Duomo and Piazza della Signoria, the Hotel Brunelleschi is a unique hotel built around the 6th century Byzantine tower La Pagliazza, the medieval church of San Michele in Palchetto and adjoining Renaissance buildings.

Hidden away in a delightful courtyard, the hotel combines a mixture of fine antique style with modern facilities. In addition, its Restaurant Santa Elisabetta (closed on Sun) enjoys a very good reputation for its refined cuisine.

With stunning views over Florence from its rooftop terrace, you will have a unique vantage point from which to admire Hotel Brunelleschi's 15th century dome that united art and engineering when, in 1463, it was the largest of its time to be built without scaffolding.

Once owned by a family of Florentine nobles, this delightful hotel retains many original features, of which some of them are exhibited in its small museum.

An atmospheric and unique hotel, the Hotel Brunelleschi has been a favourite with Citalia guests for many years.

Accommodation:

Rooms are comfortably furnished and a good size at around 23 metres squared with a view overlooking the internal Giglio courtyard. All rooms include a shower, satellite television, writing desk, arm chair, minibar, remote control air conditioning/heating, luxurious Italian bed linen, luxurious bathroom amenities, hairdryer and safe. Wifi connection is available in the hotel bar. Rooms have twin beds, which can be joined together to make a King-size double.

Classic Executive
These bedrooms are newly refurbished in a contemporary design with an oak parquet floor. The room is at least 18 metres squared and comes with the option of a Queen-size double bed or twin beds. The view overlooks the Calzaioli shopping street and the internal Giglio courtyard. Additional facilities include free wifi access in the bedroom and complimentary toiletries.

Superior
These spacious suites are at least 25 metres squared in size and they include twin beds or a King-size double. The view looks out onto the Santa Elisabetta Square and the internal Giglio courtyard. Facilities include luxurious Italian bed linen, writing desk, arm chair, video facilities on request, twice daily maid service with evening turn-down, complimentary luxury bathroom amenities, robe and slippers.

Superior Executive
These rooms are newly refurbished in a contemporary style and they enjoy a view over the famous Calzaioli shopping street and the internal courtyard. They are all at least 21 metres squared in size and feature a large wardrobe and a 42 inch LCD television with Sky channels. The bedroom has either twin beds or a Queen-size double. Additional amenities include, wifi access in the bedrrom, an iPod docking station, tea and coffee making facilities, twice daily maid service with evening turn-down, daily newspapers and luxury complimentary toiletries.

Deluxe
These newly refurbished rooms are spacious at 26 metres squared and they offer views over the Calzaioli shopping street and the internal courtyard. There are either twin beds or a King-size double, all equipped with Italian bed linen for extra comfort. The bathroom has a bath tub and additional facilities in the room include internet access, an iPod docking station, 42 inch television with Sky channels, tea and coffee making services, twice daily maid service with evening turn-down, daily newspapers, luxury complimentary toiletries, robe and slippers. It is possible to request an additional single bed for a third person to stay in the room.

Junior Suite
This large suite is 40 square metres in size and it features a spacious bedroom with twin or a King-size double bed, a separate studio, which can sleep two children on a sofa bed and roll away bed, and a large bathroom with bath and shower. The suite has recently been refurbished with luxurious interiors.

The bedroom has twin beds or a King-size double, all equipped with luxurious Italian bed linen for extra comfort. There is a separate studio, which can be used to sleep two children on a sofa bed and roll away bed. The large bathroom has a bath and shower with luxurious complimentary toiletries, robes and slippers. Additional room facilities include a writing desk, two LCD satellite televisions, daily newspapers and twice daily maid service with evening turn-down.

Supplements (from):

Classic Executive £3. Superior £12. Superior Executive £18. Deluxe £30. Junior Suite £68. Half Board £36.

Dining Guide:

Santa Elisabetta
One of the better restaurants in Florence, Santa Elisabetta is famous for its creative interpretation of the Florentine cuisine and its exellent wine list. Discover the specialties of the Chef Simone Bertaccini, in the ancient Bizantine Tower of the restaurant.
The Chef Simone Bertaccini is known as one of the most creative Chefs of the new generation, representing the Tuscan cuisine with a touch of his own fantasy. This excellent cuisine combined with the best of Tuscan wines chosen by the Sommelier make your dinner an unforgettable experience. The restaurant is composed of three different areas and can accommodate up to 120 guests.

Facilities:

• Restaurant Santa Elisabetta (closed Sun)
• American Bar
• Lounge
• Lift
• Valet service to nearby garage (payable locally approx. 32 Euros per day)
• WiFi Internet free of charge

Information:

The hotel has 96 air-conditioned rooms. Transfer time from Pisa airport: 1 hour 20 Mins. Transfer time from Florence airport: 20 mins. Child prices apply to ages 2-11 years. Official Rating 4 Star

About Florence

For a tiny city-state, Florence enjoys an enormous reputation for art, scholarship, architecture and science that belies its concentrated size. Contemporary Florence spills into the lush Tuscan countryside, but the hub of its centro storico, a treasure trove of culture, stylish living and epicurean thrills, can be crossed at a leisurely pace within half an hour. The compact nature of this honey-coloured enclave lends it an intimate atmosphere, zealously preserved by a municipality that ferociously defends ancient civic liberties whose martial and banking skills not only once ruled the papacy, but also had a profound influence on shaping European culture for over five centuries.

Florence is an erudite university centre, bursting with youthful enthusiasm and a down to earth population, who rejoice in a philosophical way of life dedicated to eating, drinking and romantic pleasures. Easy if you are one of its privileged citizens to take its lofty Renaissance accomplishments for granted, but successive generations of visitors have come here to grasp its magnificence and leave with their cheeks flushed by the city's gilded beauty.

A few short steps from Santa Maria Novella railway station stands Florence's Duomo (Santa Maria del Fiore), Europe's fourth largest church and famed for its orange-tiled dome. The Baptistry, with its soaring Campanile designed by Giotto in 1334, traces its origins to the 4th century with its provenance inscribed on bronze doors. Meandering, cobbled lanes lead to the Piazza della Signoria and its famous Palazzo Vecchio, a monumental icon to the city founders' independent republicanism.

Close by, the Galleria degli Uffizi houses Italy's greatest collection of paintings, its magnificent interiors exhibiting priceless works including Botticelli's 'Birth of Venus', where he reveals the lithesome grace of his mistress who posed as a model for many of his presentations of pagan goddesses and saintly madonnas.

Walking through Florence, an overwhelming number of historic places reveal Michelangelo's statuary and lead curious eyes to pry at Palazzo Pitti and its Boboli Gardens graced by ornamental lakes and dominated by a hill on which Forte di Belvedere warns amorous couples against the intrusion of vengeful husbands. From Piazza della Signoria avid shoppers can discover the ancient quarter of San Lorenzo (named after The Magnificent). Here rises a 19th century palazzo built in stone, iron and glass consecrated to the Tuscan passion for food with galleries of butchers, greengrocers and pasta counters.

Huddling round this is a maze of al fresco stalls, retailing high quality leather goods and stylish apparel, and for those in search of the ultra chic, the district of Oltrarno, traditionally an artisans' quarter, has become one of the most illustrious fashion centres in the world.
Smart boutiques line its Borgo San Iacopo, whose tributary lanes are punctuated with exclusive restaurants, cosy bars and trattorie, specialising in delicious traditional Tuscan cuisine. Crossing the River Arno on the Ponte Vecchio, an ancient bridge crammed with jewellery workshops and goldsmith's shops, is a must during your stay in this Renaissance capital of Tuscany.

Check Availability at the Brunelleschi, Florence, Italian Cities

Holiday type Hotel/Villa & Flight Hotel/Villa Only

Departure airport Belfast Aldergrove (BFS) Birmingham (BHX) Bristol (BRS) Edinburgh (EDI) Glasgow (GLA) Jersey (JER) Leeds (LBA) London Gatwick (LGW) London Heathrow (LHR) London Luton (LTN) Manchester (MAN) Newcastle (NCL)

Departing
01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Sep 2010 Oct 2010 Nov 2010 Dec 2010 Jan 2011 Feb 2011 Mar 2011 Apr 2011 May 2011 Jun 2011 Jul 2011 Aug 2011 Sep 2011 Oct 2011 Nov 2011

Nights 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45

Number of Rooms 1 2 3

Room 1: 1 Adult 1 Adult, 1 Child 2 Adults 2 Adults, 1 Child 2 Adults, 2 Children 2 Adults, 3 Children 3 Adults 3 Adults, 1 Child 3 Adults, 2 Children 3 Adults, 3 Children 4 Adults 4 Adults, 1 Child 4 Adults, 2 Children

Room 2: Please choose 1 Adult 1 Adult, 1 Child 2 Adults 2 Adults, 1 Child 2 Adults, 2 Children 2 Adults, 3 Children 3 Adults 3 Adults, 1 Child 3 Adults, 2 Children 3 Adults, 3 Children 4 Adults 4 Adults, 1 Child 4 Adults, 2 Children

Room 3: Please choose 1 Adult 1 Adult, 1 Child 2 Adults 2 Adults, 1 Child 2 Adults, 2 Children 2 Adults, 3 Children 3 Adults 3 Adults, 1 Child 3 Adults, 2 Children 3 Adults, 3 Children 4 Adults 4 Adults, 1 Child 4 Adults, 2 Children

Child Age = 2-11 years inclusive.
Ages based on return travel date.