"This beautiful hôtel was built in 1386 as a hôtel, and is Italy's second oldest. It has a vaulted entranceway and extremely clean and charming
sitting area and bar. The It does not have a restaurant but does have one of the best Continental breakfasts I have ever had. Some of the bedrooms are gigantic and are decorated differently. Conveniently located to anywhere in
Florence and quite close to the Uffizi Gallery and Ponte Vecchio, is a very short walk from the Nuovo Mercato, and Il Duomo."

As you can probably gather from my write-up on my website "www.stuardtclarkesrome.com" , Hôtel Porta Rossa is the ONLY hôtel that I stay at when I am in Florence. I have had the good fortune to have been able to stay there three or four times since 1991 and I love it.

"The Hôtel was Charming. We had a nice room on the 2nd floor...nothing fancy but nice and clean and very quiet...the Staff was delightful and the dining room and reception areas were filled with old world charm. Very centrally located. It's not fancy but for the price you can't complain....and there was a nice little brakfast that we enjoyed every morning...I would love to go back."

The last three times I've been to Florence I have stayed here. Christian, the manager, told me we always have a place for you. Angelo, the round one, at the desk, let me back in my room when I locked my self out naked in the middle of the night this past Christmas. The bell boy told me upon my return this past Christmas, welcome back to Florence, where it's safe and peaceful.

The last three times I've stayed there I've stayed there three weeks each time. I spent the millenium there. I rate it excellent because of its location. Everything is equidistant from where you are. It is like stepping out in the middle of Rodeo Drive evertime you walk out the door. Via Tournaboni is twenty steps away.The Santa Trinita bridge is right there, the Ponte Vecchio is around the corner. I don't go there to stay in my room. I go there to become part of Florence. If you want something plush walk across the piazza to Helvetia Bristol.

The Porta Rossa is the second oldest hôtel in all of Italy. When I return to Italy I will stay there again because it is part of me. Remember, I am a guest in their country. I look to find how I can fit in there. Not the opposite. I guess that's why Italians come up to me asking for directions. Better yet I can pick out a few words and show them where they want to go. I guess you could say I love Italy. This place is quirky and old with character.

My goodness me I was at loggerheads as to what I was gonna do... I couldn't find a room in Florence for love nor money until I called the Porta Rossa....

They had 1 room left and they warned me that it wasn't the most spacious room in the hôtel... I said I'll take it no matter what because I really had no choice.

What a PLEASANT SURPRISE! the hôtel is in a fantastic location right in the heartbeat of ancient renaissance Florence, the hôtel itself is like something straight out of a novel like the count of Monte Cristo and the service was exceptional. I felt like I had stepped through a timewarp as soon as I entered inside that famous Red Door (Porta Rossa).

In the end I didn't care how small my room was because the hôtel was lovely, snug as a bug. I would recommend this hôtel to anybody from students to nobility its' got the lot !

We stayed in a beautiful 4 bed room in 1999. Hardwood floors, high ceilings w/ chandelier, large windows w/ white chiffon curtains, view of one of the small piazzas and neighboring window boxes w/ overflowing geraniums.

Comfortable beds w/ elegant linens and wonderful bathe towels. Huge bathroom w/ vaulted ceilings and almost a surplus of space. Separate dressing area attached to bathroom.

Such a wonderful room!!! Very affordable as well! Hôtel in general oozes charm and is only minutes from the Piazza della Republica!

It completes any trip to Firenze!

Very welcoming for the footsore tourist. Central to the city, so no long walks at the end of the day just to get home.

Plain rooms, competent no-nonsense staff. Modern plumbing...and a lobby to die for! My room had a bar fridge and a safe...the fridge is useful when you stock up at the market.

The big central staircase might have been a source of noise, but surprisingly, the walls are so thick and heavy that I slept very well. Different rooms have different views and are different sizes...price is set by a central authority and are pretty much the same price.

I was there in February, and I had my pick of rooms. And no line-ups at the museums either.