Villa Le Rondini

“Tranquil, welcoming and a spectacular view”

Villa Le Rondini is a true pearl in the homogenised, impersonal sea of modern-day hotels. You are welcomed into what is a private villa, owned and run by the family and their extremely friendly staff, surrounded by their personal collection of paintings, sketches and sculptures, and after no time a… Plus

Villa Le Rondini is a true pearl in the homogenised, impersonal sea of modern-day hotels. You are welcomed into what is a private villa, owned and run by the family and their extremely friendly staff, surrounded by their personal collection of paintings, sketches and sculptures, and after no time at all, it's very easy to feel at home and relax into their easy-going Florentine hospitality. We booked for 3 nights, arriving by bus from Florence and walking through the extensive grounds to the main house, the entire path was lined by fragrant mock orange and wildflowers. On either side are old olive groves with wild barley and poppies as high as your waist, perfect for children to explore and play for hours, with views across the valley and down to Florence itself. The noise and bustle of city life turns to birdsong and the wind in the trees and there is peace. A rare and valuable commodity in this day and age. First impressions are just that - impressions. They do not tell the whole story of this hotel and, while I admit that my initial response to the interiors was that the atmosphere was one of slightly faded grandeur, this villa just grew and grew on me. It is completely charming; the terraces where you can take drinks are shaded by wisteria and awnings, there are seats in the sun overlooking the stunning view of Florence laid at your feet, the salon is a comfortable place to curl up and read a book and the staff cannot do enough to make you feel comfortable and well taken care of. We shared a large double with en suite bathroom and enough wardrobe space to stay for an entire season. The room was very comfortable, the shutters meant that sleep was blissful and deep and yes, technology does not extend the privilege of WiFi to the upstairs rooms, but that became a blessing and just added to the sense of relaxation and retreat. In the restaurant, the dishes of traditional Italy are there in force. The ingredients are fresh and of good quality, the seasoning is well-balanced and bring out the best in each dish and the staff are attentive but not overbearing. As our visit drew to a close and we thanked the owner for our stay, it was clear that this is a difficult time for a hotel like Villa Le Rondini to stay true to it's soul - competition is tough and there are many tourists that want everything to be slick, modern, connected to the technological conveniences that the 21st century takes for granted and this is not what is on offer here. But for my money, as I watched the golden light of sunset fall on the Belvedere, the Bardini Gardens and across the rooftops of Florence, drinking my vodka and tonic with a slice of lemon grown in their groves, I couldn't think of a better place to stay.

Moins

“Excellent view at this old hotel”

+++for the fantastic view It doesn’t get much better than this ++ for the sweet personel Really helpfull charming, and funny = for the breakfast Better than other Italian breafast we have had, but not as good as in other countries. ++ for the pool area Excellent view , and a lot of space With sha… Plus

+++for the fantastic view It doesn’t get much better than this ++ for the sweet personel Really helpfull charming, and funny = for the breakfast Better than other Italian breafast we have had, but not as good as in other countries. ++ for the pool area Excellent view , and a lot of space With shadow and sun -- for the small family room 4 People i 15 square meters - for the condition of the hotel Could use a renovation some places

Moins

“Quirky but in a nice way”

It is difficult to find it is out of the way. The lady in charge of reception is a Little like basil fawlty. The rooms are old. You are given a green cap to wear in the swimming pool. The rest of the staff are really nice (they turned the big TV on so we could watch the World Cup - 3 of us on our o… Plus

It is difficult to find it is out of the way. The lady in charge of reception is a Little like basil fawlty. The rooms are old. You are given a green cap to wear in the swimming pool. The rest of the staff are really nice (they turned the big TV on so we could watch the World Cup - 3 of us on our own and brought us drinks) the key in our room lock had to be inserted only so far for it to work eventually. Would we stay there again? Most definitely quirky and odd but really nice in an odd sort of way. With a view of Florence to die for.

Moins

“Old school quaint hotel”

It is Villa on the hilltop. Staff is good. Breakfast is good. You can enjoy the view which is terrific. City looks nice from above. Google maps don't really take you to the place. So beware. But it takes u nearby. Just take a bus and explore Florence. Reaching this place is a bit of a task. … Plus

It is Villa on the hilltop. Staff is good. Breakfast is good. You can enjoy the view which is terrific. City looks nice from above. Google maps don't really take you to the place. So beware. But it takes u nearby. Just take a bus and explore Florence. Reaching this place is a bit of a task. Roads are a bit dangerous. The hotel is old. And the rooms are small. Needs a bit of a revamp. But very much enjoyable. Hotel view is beautiful and terrific. The walkway to the hotel is filled with fragrance.

Moins