I'd visited Florence as a single guy travelling alone six years back and ended up in La Gioconda because of its price and location. Frankly, I'd booked very late with little research and was happy to have anything at that point. It wasn't the most beautiful hotel by any stretch of the imagination but it was functional, the staff was nice and the location couldn't be beat. I didn't learn until after my stay of the hotel's place in history, so vowed I'd return one day to stay in the famed Room 20. I had that opportunity as my wife and I, on our honeymoon, would be visiting Florence. She's an artist and great appreciator of art history and was very excited when we were able to book Room 20.

The room itself was clean and of suitable size, the bathroom was clean and functional if a little odd, the light was good even if the view out the window wasn't, the bed was comfortable and the air conditioning was adequate (especially for the 40 deg C outside temperatures) and not too noisy. Breakfast was of the standard continental variety - boiled eggs, some fresh fruit, bread and pastries, cereal, juice, coffee. A lift would have been nice, but the stairs were manageable. The location is outstanding, being halfway between the train station and Duomo.

The staff were mostly pleasant with the exception of housekeeping, who apparently wanted us out of the room earlier than our checkout time (they were just plain mean). I suppose other reviewers might be right in questioning the hotel's 3-star rating, but I still felt as if I'd gotten a decent hotel for what I paid for 4 nights' stay. There probably are nicer places in Florence for the money if you do some looking around, but we were satisfied with what we got.

Very central, between railway station and Duomo. No lift, otherwise comfortable and elegant. Breakfast OK. Safe because of 24 hour reception, handing out key. "Double room for one person" is really a slightly larger single room (bed 1,40m wide). Some noise from parking in back yard; very noisy if room looks on street.

Service was not very good. Staff had an argument with me regarding bugs. In need of cleaning and major cleaning of bath rooms. No elevator. I have stayed at other hotels in Florence and thought I would try something new. The pictures on line look good. Was I in for a surprise. Never again. I will stay with what I know. I now will no longer book anything new. I plan on waiting until I get to an area and personally looking at a room. No more trying something new when it comes to a good night sleep and a clean room.

Small, dirty, uncomfortable, hot, noisy, broken lifts. The beds are a torture right out of Dante. The bathrooms, even by the standards of tiny hotels in France and Italy are awful. You need to be a contortionist to take care of basic functions. Location is great, but there are many other hotels in the immediate area. Do yourself a favor. Find a real three start hotel. This one certainly does not qualify. The staff are nice enough, but there is nothing they can say or do that will let you have a decent night's sleep in this place.