A Quiet Hotel Near the Duomo in Florence

It's hard to find a hotel much closer to the Duomo in Florence than Hotel Calzaiuoli. You step right from the door of the hotel onto one of Florence's main shopping streets, Via dei Calzaiuoli, which leads directly to the Duomo in one direction and Piazza della Signoria to the other.

Hotel Calzaiuoli feels like a little oasis contrasting the bustle of the street outside, mostly because of its small size, only 53 rooms, and its elegantly simple d?cor.

We've stayed in many different rooms over the years, most of them with blue carpets accented by gold lighting fixtures and dark wood furniture. The superior rooms and the suites afford the most comfort for those of us accustomed to large, American-style hotel rooms.

Because the hotel is on a pedestrian street rather than a car thoroughfare, it is quieter than other hotels you might find. Still a room in the back on an upper floor will help to ensure a good night's sleep. In fact, the thing we remember most is taking naps, everyday, in the middle of the day, for hours. The hotel is that relaxing.