Pensione Bencista

The Bencista is a real find for the traveler looking for a congenial, unpretentious, family-run hotel near Florence that has charm and yet is reasonably priced. The villa, romantically nestled in the foothills with a bird’s-eye view of Florence, is owned and managed by the Simoni family who are always about, personally seeing to every need of their guests. Simone Simoni speaks excellent English, and on the day of my arrival he was patiently engrossed in conversation with one of the guests, giving him tips for sightseeing. Downstairs there is a jumble of sitting rooms, bars, and parlors, each decorated with dark Victorian furniture. Upstairs are the bedrooms, which vary in size, location, and furnishings. Some are far superior to others. Many people return year after year to their favorite room. The hotel is beautifully located for sightseeing in both Florence and Tuscany. If you do not have a car, you can take the bus that runs regularly into Florence from the top of the road every 15 min. You can choose every day if you want just breakfast, lunch or dinner. One of the outstanding features of the Pensione is its splendid terrace where guests can enjoy a sweeping panorama of Florence.  In spring of 2012 the Pensione will offer a new wellness center for relaxing and in the winter of 2012 a swimming pool will be built in the garden overlooking Florence.