I stayed with my partner for one week in this wonderful hostel housed inside a 17th century Palazzo. The hostel is run by the Anglican Church and the price is very inexpensive. The location is great, you can walk to the train station as well as all the main sites like the Ponte Vechio, Uffizi Gallery, Palazzo Vechio and the Duomo. You are also close to the Pitti Palace and the Boboli Gardens. There are some great shops near the Instituto including coffeshops, delicatessens, internet cafes and the best gelateria I have ever been to near the Arno.
As for the room itself, it was spacious and clean, with exposed beams and a clean and simple bathroom. The only problem was that our room didn't have a TV but there are rooms with TV's available. If every hostel/hotel was like this then travelling would be so easy.

Firenze has expensive accomodation but Istituto Gould was an exception. 44euros per night for a single room during Easter was great value. 20 mins walk from train station, 500m from ponte vecchio, spacious and clean rooms with bathrooms. Very nice gardens too. Do book well in advance .

As other cities in Italy, finding a charming, peaceful and central hotel with a budget price is not easy. That's why i think Instituto Gould, in Florence, is a catch. This residence has clean and good size rooms with private bathroom. Situated in Via dei Serragli (Oltrano's area), Istituto Gould's palazzo is located near Palazzo Pitty and Ponte Vecchio and is about 15 minutes easy walk to the train station M. S. Novella. Our room was one of the most expensive in their list. It costs 32 euros per person and per night. The room very clean has two single beds, television with some international channels (like CNN and Sky News), private bathroom and a large window with a beautiful view to the private garden. There's no curfue. When you check in, you receive a key to your room and to the palazzo door. But there's a silence rule: no noise after 23 hours (11pm). And It works. It was very peaceful at night. Every morning i heard the birds singing in the private garden.
During your stay, no one cleans your room. But down the hall, you can find every thing you need, like little soaps and toilette paper. In the your closet's room, you will find blankets. Istituto Gould provides towels also. Down the hall, are also machines with cold drinks, coffee, capuccino and chocolate. We didn't have breakfast at the residence, but you can find many place where you can have a good and non expensive breakfast. The recepcionists are friendly and helpful.

We were 2 couples in our 60s staying 1 night in Florence before returning home. We had stayed at a Foresteria Methodist guesthouse in Venice 3 weeks before. Like that one, Instituto Gould was spotlessly clean and extremely well located. Unlike that one, the desk staff was SO friendly and helpful, including making our 5 am taxi reservation for the next morning (and yes, the taxi showed up exactly on time). Our room overlooked a beautiful courtyard. No elevator, no wireless access; using the TV would have cost a few euros. Narrow but comfortable beds. Some noise from college kids staying down the hall. But you can't beat 30 euros per person per night for a private bath within easy walking distance of the Arno and the center of tourist Florence. I would definitely stay here again if I'm ever fortunate enough to be in Florence again.