Le Stanze di Santa Croce

Jewel of a B&B, with a delightful owner. In October, 2008, my sister and I traveled to Florence; she for the first time, I for the umpteenth. We stayed at Le Stanze di Santa Croce (where I had stayed with my daughters in 2005). To say that Le Stanze is a jewel of a B&B is an understatement. As most real estate sales people will tell you, what matters most in a property are three things: (1) location, (2) location, (3) location. And Le Stanze qualifies absolutely. It is only two blocks off Piazza Santa Croce. At one end of the street (Pinzochere) is Santa Croce Cathedral and at the other is Michaelangelo's house. Easy walking to the Duomo, the Ponte Vecchio, good restaurants, museums, etc. Mariangela is the owner and a few days before you arrive she will email you the access code to the front door. You let yourself in, read her notes of welcome on the entry table, pick up your room keys and make yourself at home. Mariangela does not live there. She comes in in the mornings to make breakfast then returns in the afternoon to make sure everyone is happy. She is a marvelous cook and you can arrange for a cooking lesson - which includes a tour of the local market and instruction on how to pick out the very best of the produce. She is happy to make restaurant reservations, help track down your lost luggage, arrange for taxi service, or anything else you might need. There is a delightful terrace where breakfast is served (and where you may partake of the results of your cooking lesson) or in the evenings after your adventures, relax with bread and cheese, open a bottle of wine (well, maybe more than a bottle), compare notes with other guests, talk about your day, and unwind. The charm of this little B&B is intoxicating and the privacy it affords is luxurious. There are four guest rooms. Each is air conditioned, each has its own bath. Each is tastefully decorated and everything is pristine. If you're looking for personal attention from your host, if you're looking for a great location with reasonable rates, if you're looking for Italian charm, you'll find it at Le Stanze. I am yearning to return.