I took my wife to Tuscany for our 30th anniversary--the weather was perfect, the hotel was great, the food was fabulous, and the wine was Chianti. The Aprile hotel was centrally located to all the major cathedrals, the major train terminal, and the Arno River. If you want a great location for a vacation to Florence this is a terrific choice.

Stayed in this rundown hotel for four nights, but never understood how it has earned its 4-star rating. The entrance is from a shabby noisy street directly into a cramped reception. There are almost no sitting area or anything you could call a lobby - just a shabby bar with a small number of uncomfortable chairs. Looked depressing to us.

Our room was large, but dark and ugly, the desk was small, dusty(!) and inadequate.
The TV was a small 15" box, seemed like at least 15 years old.
The bathroom was small and didn't look like a 4-star hotel bathroom at all. There were 3 lamps in the bathroom - only one worked. The shampoo and soap was not renewed, so we had to go down to the reception to get new.
The hotel has free wifi, but it is impossible to get any connection except downstairs in the reception. So we had to perform our internet sessions in an uncomfortable chair in the reception area. Several other guests had the same experience. When we complained about the almost non-existing wifi, one personal just replied "Yes, but its free"!!

Breakfast was not more than adequate, and the guests that choose to have their breakfast in the adjacent "garden", had to fight with pigeons. Unattended tables were quickly occupied by pigeons. Although the weather was nice, we preferred to have our breakfast inside - no wonder!

Anything positive about this hotel? yes:
- the beds were very comfortable
- the hotel is close to the railway station
- nothing more.

Our family of three, including our 11 year old, had a ball at the dal Borgo. It was easy to find from the station, a very in keeping with Florence's spirit. Had some quirky corridors and some nooks and crannies, but these were delightful especially to our daughter. Do you want something with character or a tower? those looking for the latter should look elsewhere. Room size was great - felt more like a small apartment. We had views of Santa Novella and a distant Duomo. Nearby was a laundry place with same day service - can be hard to find. Automatic teller was harder to find. Wi fi did not work in our room, suspect the 15th century had something to do with it, but could be accessed in a comfy chair in the common area. Food staff great, reception staff a little mixed. Don't miss the perfumery a few doors away!

We arrived late at night, the reception advised us our room was small, quite with a view, our first thoughts yes it's small, when we unpacked and managed to put everything away, we realized it was a great room, very good bathroom, views of the church, clean crisp bed linen, soft towels, the staff helpful and friendly, breakfast good, at any time 7.30 until later the food is replaced no need to rush for fear of it running out.
Its an old building , for us it was part of the charm, we loved it.

The Hotel is central , close to the station, also crossing the Arno, where we ate at Dante's and Mama Gina very good value.
Near the Hotel to eat Pizzeria Centopoveri in Via Palazzuolo for lunch only.
We found Trattoria Gabriello in Via Condotta, so good, not over the top prices so close to Piazza Signoria.

We will return to Palazzo dal Borgo soon