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The monastery we stayed at here in Florence is in the centre of the city and is just around the corner from the Duomo – about a 2 minute walk. The cost was approximately 50euro a night for a single. This monastery is magical with several levels overlooking its own beautiful gardens.
Gardens in the monastery
David
It has an elevator making it easy for taking your luggage up rather than using the stairs. The common rooms throughout the monastery are decorated with the most amazing and beautiful antique furniture.
Inside the monastery
The bathrooms are modern and very clean. This monastery, as are most of the monasteries, is run by nuns. The reception staff during our stay only spoke Italian but they were very helpful. The breakfasts each morning, which is included, were very good. We always met and chatted with other travellers at breakfast.
The breakfast room
For more information on this monastery click here
Duomo
We had 4 nights and 5 days in Florence, I could easily have stayed for longer. Every day we were so busy exploring and discovering this amazing city. There is so much to see and 5 days is not nearly enough time. Florence, is considered to be the birth place of Renaissance and one of the most beautiful cities in the world.
Ponte Vecchio
We had a day side trip to the magnificent hill top town of San Gimignano – just stunning. We explored the many little winding lanes, ate lunch overlooking the amazing landcape and we bought gelato from the gelateria which was the winner of the best gelato in Italy. Buonissimo, it was so good.
Entrance to San Gimignano
The gelateria
I enjoyed the hop on hop off bus around Florence which included a trip to Fiesole which over looks the city of Florence.
Fiesole
Overlooking Florence
We found shopping in Florence to be excellent.
One of many beautiful shops
There are hundreds of market stalls right in the heart of the city offering anything and everything including a superb variety of leather goods at very reasonable prices. We found that Florence offers better prices and ranges of goods than many other places in Italy. The markets are a great atmosphere and an easy way to spend an evening or afternoon. There is also a huge produce market within these markets with individual stalls which are like mini restaurants. Here you can eat incredible local cuisine at reasonable prices and enjoy a glass of wine. It is always very busy here in these markets but a wonderful experience.
The markets
Markets
For more information on this monastery click here
We also enjoyed a gelato at the same place as you Lyn and stayed in a monastery at San Gimignano but it was a long way through the city of cobble stones with suit cases and no public transport within the walls. The monastery was quite adequate apart from the isolated location.
I have done walks like that so I know how tough it can be. The gelato was pretty good tho, hey L
This is such a great tip re. the monastery – thank you so much for sharing. I had heard that you could stay in monasteries across Italy but had no idea you could stay in one so central in such a popular city for such an inexpensive price – and it looked beautiful too!
lyn that was such an informative and interesting blog, oh how i would love to be transported there now x ruthie
Hey Ruthie, yes they are truly a hidden treasure. L x
That monastery in Florence looks like an excellent place to stay. Thanks for the tip.
They really are a great option. I guess it depends on what your needs are at the time L
We loved Florence as well, walking through the piazzas at night was one of our favourite things to do and I loved browsing through the artworks at the markets. The monastery you stayed at looks ideal, will be looking into it further when we make plans for our next trip, thanks for sharing :-)
Hi twoblackdoggies, thank you for your feedback. Glad you like my posts Lyn
Hi Lyn – we’re heading to Florence this weekend and have been reading through your post about the city. Would love to have time to go for lunch at Locanda San Domenica just outside – looks wonderful but not sure we’ll have time. Ciao. Georgie
Hi Georgie I am sure that you will enjoy wherever you go in Florence. A fantastic experience is the San Lorenzo markets upstairs in the food court. Great food great prices Lyn On 19/11/2014 9:15 PM, “Travelling Italy with Lyn” wrote:
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Thank you for visiting – yes, Florence is amazing and you can enjoy the City from so many different points of view. There is so much that actually short visits are quite a good idea! Thank you for the information about staying in monasteries and convents – very useful
The monasteries are a good option.