AdAstra Suites

You may be only 10 minutes from the famous Ponte Vecchio, with its inevitable throngs of tourists but once behind the high walls of this guest house, you’re wrapped in a fantasy garden of ancient trees and romantic follies. Rooms in this 16th-century palazzo overlook Giardino Torrigiani, the largest, privately-owned city garden in Europe. Although you can’t wander freely in the garden (except by prior arrangement), two of AdAstra’s rooms are tucked under the garden wall (in the former gardener’s cottage) while all guests can enjoy the spectacular, and peaceful, views from the first-floor terrace. The guesthouse, with just nine rooms, occupies a floor of the Marchese Torrigiani’s 16th-century family home. Rooms have kept their elegant proportions - frescoed ceilings, carved double-doors - but have been styled in a witty, artful manner; a mix of retro and recycled furniture. All are generous in size with bold bathrooms - perhaps in dazzling black-and-white, or with hydrangea-flowered wallpaper - and a separate bath in the bedroom. The garden rooms offer the most privacy; those with direct terrace access have the best views. On warm days, breakfast on the terrace; otherwise, eat in the elegant, frescoed salon. And breakfast is a good spread, plus there are freshly made pastries and hot drinks available all day. And an honesty bar for evening aperitivos. Staff are super-friendly and helpful; a great choice if you want to experience a quieter, more authentic, part of Florence.

 

Written by Helen Pickles

• Rooms with balcony/terrace
• Four king balcony rooms open on to a shared wrap around terrace
• Safe
• Sit-out Terrace
• No restaurant
• No pets
• Walking distance restaurants

• Bar
• Air conditioning
• Views
• Wifi
• Concierge
• Sitting Room

• Museums
• Visit the nearby Museo Bardini home to an eccentric collection of antiques, amassed by 19th-century art dealer Stefano Bardini.
• Designer Shopping
• The Oltrarno district has wonderful artisan workshops for jewellery, shoes, hand-made paper, picture-frames and antiques.

• Sights nearby
• Ten minutes walk from Pitti Palace and the Ponte Vecchio.

Why do people love staying in your hotel? Our guests always appreciate the quietness and privacy of AdAstra, away from the crowds and touristic hustle and bustle of the main centre of Florence, and the fact that staying here allows you to discover the more artisanal and authentic Oltrarno district. They also embrace the quirky character of the 50’s, 60’s, 70’s original Italian style decor within such historical surroundings.

What is there to do in the area? The Oltrarno district boasts numerous beautiful churches, as well as museums, gardens, restaurants, cafes, vintage clothing stores, furniture stores, cooking schools, art schools, language schools. The Oltrarno district is more authentically Florentine, away from the touristic crowds, with an individual spirit, a selection of independent stores and quirky new arrivals.

What kind of breakfast do you offer? We offer a continental breakfast, with a daily fresh selection of local pastries, cold cuts, cheeses, yoghurts, fruit, cereals and juices, frothy cappuccinos, hot chocolate and more.

Do you offer other meals? And can you recommend good places to eat out locally? To all our guests we offer breakfast, and an all-day complimentary buffet with coffee, tea, fruit and pastries. We do not have a restaurant on-site, but we are very happily located among many delicious restaurants and trattorias, with cuisines varying from Tuscan to vegetarian to specializing in fresh hand-made pasta, and we are glad to give personalized recommendations and make reservations for our guests.

Which are your most popular room types, and why? Our rooms are not standardised and each is decorated in a different way, each has their own personality and unique features and are chosen by our guests depending on their taste. In the warmer months our Premium Garden rooms, located in our dependance, a lovely cottage in the middle of the Torrigiani Gardens, are very in demand, as one can fully enjoy the warm weather and the sun, since each room features a private outdoor area with a table, chairs and sun chairs. Four of the seven rooms in the main villa area give onto the wraparound terrace with stunning views over the gardens.

What facilities do you have for children and can you fit extra beds in your rooms? Due to its historical nature, we feel our B&B is not suitable for infants, toddlers and small children. We do however have the possibility of adding an extra bed to some of the rooms, and upon request we have cots and high chairs available.

What message would you like to give Hotel Guru readers? AdAstra means “to the stars” in Latin, as a homage to the neo-gothic tower visible in the garden from our terrace which served as an observatory to the skies in the early 1800’s and by mixing memories and modernity, a sense of antique and modern Italian style we wish all of our guests a wonderful stay with us, dreaming under the AdAstra stars..