I have been a guest at the De' Benci B&B five times, and I can't imagine staying anywhere else in Florence. From the moment you enter the beautiful wooden doors to the lobby (the B&B is on the fourth floor of a magnificent palazzo on the via de' Benci - and there's an elevator, although the stairs are easy to climb and are well-lit), there's an atmosphere of calm and a kind of subtle sensory overload. Carlo De Toffol, the proprietor, is an energetic, welcoming and helpful fellow who makes you feel at home and immediately answers any of your needs. There are unique and individually named rooms, Dante, Leonardo, etc., that are large, beautifully appointed, and comfortable. I can't imagine needing more than the services offered, including all the usual linen and bathroom supplies (hair dryer and heated towel racks), TV, and Internet with both WiFi and ethernet connections. And all of this in the center of things - two steps in one direction to the Arno and the Ponte Vecchio, a few steps in the other direction to the recently restored Santa Croce.
