Location
Two minutes from the striking Ponte Vecchio, the Por Santa Maria Hotel is a 1 star hotel capable of bringing you into touch with the heart of Florence. By staying at our hotel you will leave your car behind and give yourself the luxury of walking to all the monuments in the city; for the more time consuming walks, public transport stops are close to the hotel.
The Por Santa Maria Hotel is just off of the Piazza della Signoria and is well-connected with the central station of Santa Maria Novella, within easy reach thanks to the electric bus which will bring you to the station in less than 10 minutes. The hotel is 1 km from the Da Basso Fortress and the Palaffari of Florence, which are important trade show headquarters for shows, commercial exhibitions and fashion shows.
Piazza della Signoria
This is the square that has always symbolized the civic spirit of the city. It is here that numerous works of art and splendid architectural structures have been preserved. You will be able to admire the gothic arches of the Loggia di Lanzi and the two marble lions at the entrance, the great bronze statue of Perseo by Cellini and, along the façade of the Palazzo Vecchio, a copy of the fascinating David by Michelangelo.
Palazzo Vecchio
This palace was the stronghold of the Medici family, headquarters for the lords, and the true political and administrative center of Florence. Inside, you will find frescos and Renaissance statues of great worth, amongst which “Il Genio della Vittoria” (the Genius of Victory) by Michelangelo and the bronze collection by Donatello; outside, the castellated tower built in the 300s dominates over the landscape with its impressive height of 95 meters.
Ponte Vecchio
Near our hotel, less than three hundred meters away, you will find the oldest bridge that crosses the Arno river. Rebuilt in 1333 after a flash flood, it is one of the most recurring and fascinating images of Florence. The bridge is noted for having gold smiths and jewel shops built along it, with terraces that face the water. This place is both striking and romantic.
The Uffizi Gallery
Words do not exist to describe the greatness of the collection of Renaissance works preserved in this gallery. Michelangelo, Botticelli, Raffaello, Giotto and Caravaggio are only some of the artists represented in the Uffizi Gallery, along with the inestimable collection by the Medici family and the collection of German, Flemish, and Dutch works, making this place an obligatory stopover during your stay in Florence.
Piazza del Duomo
Brunelleschi’s dome alone, which towers over the large and linear simplicity of the Santa Maria in Fiore Cathedral, makes this square captivating. In addition, this square has the marvelous bell tower by Giotto, covered with sublime decorations, as well as the octagonal Baptistery of San Giovanni made with precious white and green marble.
DON’T FORGET!
Palazzo Strozzi (“Strozzi Palace”) – contemporary art exhibition
Giardino di Boboli (“Boboli’s Garden”) – Renaissance-style garden
Palazzo Pitti (“Pitti Palace”) – modern art gallery
Mercato di San Lorenzo (“San Lorenzo Market”) – Tuscan specialties
Galleria dell’Accademia (“Accademia Gallery”) – Michelangelo’s David
Leisure
Besides having a strong love for culture, museums, and art galleries, Florence is a fun-filled city, characterized by its diverse range of bars.
Evenings usually begin in wine bars on the Arno accompanied by delicious aperitifs, followed by dinner in the restaurants in the center of town (where you will find Hebrew, Japanese, Mexican, and Mediterranean cuisine) or in the well-known Tuscan trattorias, where, thanks to the high quality of the produce, each flavor is unforgettable.
Florence is a city filled with live music events (such as at the Auditorium Flog, Tenax, Viper Club, Omi), where you can dance until dawn (at the Maracanà abd Meccanò) but also where you can stroll or read in utter peace, savoring a good coffee (such as at the Edison library). During the summer, the Cascine Park (cabaret shows, theater, fashion shows), together with the squares in the city center enlivened with jugglers and street artists, make Florence an enjoyable city where having fun is a given.
Parking available
The Por Santa Maria Hotel has a reserved parking area for your cars. Due to the limited availability of spaces, you will need to reserve a place whilst making your booking. The daily fare is between 10 to 15 euros, depending on the type of car you own. To arrive at the parking area, we advise you to follow the directions indicated on the map.
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HOW TO FIND US
By train. When you arrive at the central station of Santa Maria Novella, take the electric bus (line A) which departs every 10 minutes from the station; descend on via Calimala, continue straight and turn left on to the street via Calimaruzza, the first street immediately after the Porcellino market, where at house number 3 you will find the Por Santa Maria Hotel.
By plane. The airport “Amerigo Vespucci” is 10 km from the city center. To reach our hotel we advise you to use the shuttle bus “Vola in Bus” which will bring you to the central train station of Santa Maria Novella, from here follow the directions given above in the ‘By train’ section. You may also use a taxi (driving time: roughly 15 minutes).
By car. Arriving in Florence from the A1 highway, exit at the south Florence tollgate. Drive on to via Giovanni Agnelli, continue straight for via Marco Polo, passing the bridge Ponte a Varlungo and keeping to the left, on to via De Nicola; continue for 500 m, until you reach Lungarno del Tempio, which is parallel to the Hotel Mediterraneo, turn right on to viale Amendola, continue straight after the roundabout in the square piazza Beccaria, entering viale Gramsci; after 500 m, you will arrive in piazzale Donatello, follow the roundabout keeping to the left up until the traffic light, turn right for via Alfieri, turn right again for via Giusti and take the first left, borgo Pinti, continuing until house number 5 where you will find the parking area. Leave the car there, and walk 100 m, crossing via Sant’Egidio and via dell’Oriuolo, enter the Piazza San Pier Maggiore, take the electric bus (linea A) and get off after 2 stops, in via della Condotta, near the Por Santa Maria hotel.