Villa Malavolta

We stayed in Villa Malavolta for two nights and found it to be an amazing experience. The property is about 10 min from the center of town and about 15 min from SMN train station via buses 11, 36 or 37. The buses run very frequently so we never had to wait more than a few minutes. We did take taxis on the way to the property when returning home late at night. Our room was upstairs overlooking the front of the property but there was a very large balcony off to the side which looks toward the city. A great area for my late night cigar and glass of Chianti. The room was clean and quiet and the bathroom was roomy by EU standards. If you are unsure of where to visit while in Florence, the owner, Donatella, is fountain of knowledge. We just let her know how much time we had available and she gave us a plan. Our son is a chef in the area who had a few days off to visit so we spent more time sampling food than the average tourist. Breakfast was plentiful with a selection of fruits, breads, jams, cake, meats, cheeses and excellent coffee. As mentioned in the other reviews, the meal is served in the oldest room in the house dating from the 15th century. The home is a bit of an art museum itself as the owner is an accomplished artist and sculptor. Her works as well as those of others is displayed throughout the home. WiFi was OK, better if accessed in the common area (library) outside the room, but it worked in the room as well.

We stayed at this place for 1 night during our visit to Florence. This is a nice villa which is about 15 mts by road. This is not very close to the city though. We arrived early in the morning. We were allowed an early check-in that enabled us to catch up on some rest. It is an old villa that has a history to it. There is an old couple that lives here and manages. The breakfast was not great. The toaster had some problems. The coffee was not hot either. The rooms lacked a bit of privacy. The host could have been less rude at times. This daily rate was not cheap either Atleast, we were not staying here for free. For the early check-in, they gave us I would let go of the other experiences.

Selected as a quiet refuge to return to after busy days exploring Florence's many attractions. This B&B was located close to a main bus route, but away from the downtown. The private garden is splendid.