Grand Hotel Minerva

The Grand Hotel Minerva in Florence
The four-star Grand Hotel Minerva on Piazza Santa Maria Novella in Florence

Fairly pricey high-class hotel overlooking Piazza Santa Maria Novella

The famed Grand Hotel Minerva occupies a strung-together series of medieval buildings overlooking Piazza Santa Maria Novella—right next to the cloisters of the church of Santa Maria Novella.

It is considered the oldest continuously-operating hotel in the city—it received its hoteliers license in 1872, but has been operating at least as far back as 1848. It is particularly favoured by heads of state.

The 102 guest rooms are largely modern—though some suites enjoy beamed ceilings over the contemporary furnishings and amenities, and some of the higher-grade rooms are done in a sumptuous antique style.

Since it was converted into a hotel more than a century and a half ago, many of the rooms in the "classic" category can be a bit small by the standards of a modern four-star property—which is why, coupled with prices that can push above €200 in high season, it doesn't get a star rating here.

However, all of the rooms are emminently comfortable and loaded with amenties like free WiFi. The lofted family suites can sleep up to five.

There is a breakfast deck jutting into the piazza for a morning cappucino with a view of the glorious facade of Santa Maria Novella, and a rooftop swimming pool with killer city views.

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Details

Pz. Santa Maria Novella 16
tel. +39-055-27-230
www.grandhotelminerva.com
€€€

Bus: 6, 11, 22, C1, C2; 12
Hop-on/hop-off: Ognissanti (A)

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Useful Italian for lodging
English (Inglese) Italian (Italiano) Pro-nun-cee-YAY-shun
Good day Buon giorno bwohn JOUR-noh
Good evening Buona sera BWOH-nah SAIR-rah
Good night Buona notte BWOH-nah NOTE-tay
Goodbye Arrivederci ah-ree-vah-DAIR-chee
Excuse me (to get attention) Scusi SKOO-zee
thank you grazie GRAT-tzee-yay
please per favore pair fa-VOHR-ray
yes si see
no no no
Do you speak English? Parla Inglese? PAR-la een-GLAY-zay
I don't understand Non capisco non ka-PEESK-koh
I'm sorry Mi dispiace mee dees-pee-YAT-chay
     
Where is? Dov'é doh-VAY
...a hotel un albergo oon al-BEAR-go
...a B&B un bed-and-breakfast oon bet hand BREK-fust
...a rental room un'affittacamera oon ah-feet-ah-CAH-mair-ra
...an apartment for rent un appartamento oon ah-part-tah-MENT-toh
...a farm stay un agriturismo oon ah-gree-tour-EES-moh
...a hostel un ostello oon oh-STEHL-loh
     
How much is...? Quanto costa? KWAN-toh COST-ah
a single room una singola OO-nah SEEN-go-la
double room for single use [will often be offered if singles are unavailable] doppia uso singola DOPE-pee-ya OO-so SEEN-go-la
a double room with two beds una doppia con due letti OO-nah DOPE-pee-ya cone DOO-way LET-tee
a double room with one big bed una matrimoniale OO-nah mat-tree-moan-nee-YAAL-lay
triple room una tripla OO-nah TREE-plah
with private bathroom con bagno cone BAHN-yoh
without private bathroom senza bagno [they might say con bagno in comune—"with a communal bath"] SEN-zah BAHN-yoh
for one night per una notte pair OO-nah NOH-tay
for two nights per due notti pair DOO-way NOH-tee
for three nights per tre notti pair tray NOH-tee
Is breakfast included? É incluso la prima colazione? ay in-CLOO-soh lah PREE-mah coal-laht-zee-YOAN-nay
Is there WiFi? C'é WiFi? chay WHY-fy?
May I see the room? Posso vedere la camera? POH-soh veh-DAIR-eh lah CAH-mair-rah
That's too much É troppo ay TROH-po
Is there a cheaper one? C'é una più economica? chay OO-nah pew eh-ko-NO-mee-kah
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Minerva

Pz. Santa Maria Novella 16
tel. +39-055-27-230
www.grandhotelminerva.com
€€€

Bus: 6, 11, 22, C1, C2; 12
Hop-on/hop-off: Ognissanti (A)

» book



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