🇮🇹 Florence, Italy
Stella della casa
📍 51, Via della Scala, Florence
Your stay — Stella della casa
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The Property — Stella della casa
A clean, modern three-star on a quiet residential street a 15-minute walk from the Duomo. The lobby is compact but bright, with tiled floors, a small breakfast room, and a young reception team who can usually get you a walking-tour discount. It suits budget-conscious travellers who want a reliable base with decent soundproofing and a proper buffet breakfast, rather than character or old-world charm.
Chronicles of Florence
Florence was founded as a Roman settlement in 59 BC, its grid still visible around Piazza della Repubblica. The city exploded in wealth and creativity during the 14th–16th centuries, bankrolled by wool, banking and the Medici family, who commissioned Brunelleschi’s dome on the cathedral (still the largest brick dome ever built). That concentrated patronage gave us the Renaissance — and a historic centre so dense with masterpieces it’s a UNESCO World Heritage site. Today it’s a midsize city of 380,000 that survives on tourism and furniture design, balancing frantic crowds around the Uffizi with quiet local life in the Oltrarno neighbourhoods.
Best Time to Visit
Full Florence guide →Best months
May, June and September. The weather is warm but not brutal (highs 24–28°C), the days long, and the jasmine and wisteria are out. June starts to get busy but is still manageable before the July–August crush.
Peak / festival surge
July to August, especially August. Temperatures can hit 38°C with high humidity, and the historic centre is shoulder-to-shoulder. Hotel rates at Stella della casa double or triple versus October; advance booking is essential. The main event is the feast of Saint John the Baptist (24 June) with fireworks, and then the August Ferragosto holiday empties locals but fills hotels with tourists.
Budget shoulder season
October and early November. The weather is still pleasant (18–22°C), crowds thin sharply after mid-October, and hotel rates drop 30–40%. Many museum queues vanish. The only catch: occasional rain and shorter museum hours.
Weather & packing
Florence in summer has a nasty habit of sudden afternoon thunderstorms despite the morning heat. Pack a compact foldable rain jacket and at least one long-sleeved top for air-conditioned churches and restaurants — bare shoulders are often turned away at cathedral doors.
Live City Briefing — Florence
- The Uffizi now requires timed tickets booked at least two days ahead in summer; same-day entry is nearly impossible until late September.
- A pedestrian zone on Via de' Calzaiuoli (main Duomo–Piazza della Signoria drag) has been expanded, so taxis and scooters are banned 11am–6pm through August. Plan walking routes accordingly.
- The new tram line T2, which connects the airport to Piazza della Libertà, is running smoothly — a 20-minute ride for €1.70, cheaper than taxis.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Stella della casa, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the 3rd or 4th floor facing the inner courtyard. These floors are high enough to escape most street-level noise and the south-facing courtyard rooms catch good light without direct traffic sound. The lift only reaches the 4th floor, so rooms one floor above it have extra quiet from foot traffic.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid rooms ending in 01 or 02 on floors 1-2: they sit directly over the hotel's bar and breakfast area, and the ground-floor service entrance is below. Also avoid room 101 – it's next to the lift shaft and the street-facing windows let in Via della Scala's traffic noise from 6am.
Best views
South-facing rooms on floors 4-5 look over the courtyard gardens of neighbouring palazzi. Street-facing rooms on 4th floor and above get a partial view of the Duomo's dome between rooftops, but also the tram rumble from Via della Scala.
Quietest floors
Floors 3 through 5 are the quietest. The lift stops at 4, so floor 5 is a walk-up but has no through-traffic noise from above or below.
🔊 Noise notes
Via della Scala is a main thoroughfare with trams from 5:30am to midnight. The hotel bar runs until 11pm, and there's a service door on the side alley that gets delivery trucks from 7am. The lift is old and makes a distinct clunking sound on each floor.
Insider tips
1) Parking: there is no hotel car park. Use the Garage Lungarno (€30/day, 5-min walk) or park at Villa Costanza tram stop (€8/day, tram 15 mins to station). 2) Check-in: ask the front desk for a room key with the courtyard-facing code – they have a few on the 4th floor that get direct afternoon sun and are deliberately less allocated to walk-ins.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hotel Facilities — Stella della casa
Free WiFi throughout; the connection is adequate for email and browsing (about 15 Mbps download). No login – just accept terms on the landing page.
One lift serves all three floors; no stairs-only sections. Lift is small (fits two people with suitcases).
Digital newsstand via PressReader code given at reception. No physical papers. The building is a 19th-century former guesthouse with original stone stairs and a small inner courtyard.
Standard check-in from 14:00; early bag drop always free; late check-out (after 11:00) costs €30 until 14:00, after that full extra night. Weekend same rules apply.
Free luggage storage in a locked room before check-in and after check-out, 24h availability.
Step-free access from street via a portable ramp (ask at reception). The lift fits a standard wheelchair. One ground-floor room available on request. No accessible bathroom modifications otherwise.
No on-site parking. Nearest public garage is Garage Dei (Via dei Serragli 110, 5-min walk), €35 per night. No EV charging on site. Street parking (blue lines) €2/hour, 8:00–20:00.
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: €5.50 per person per night (mandatory, applies to all booked guests from 10 years old; paid at check-in)
Deposit & card hold: First night charged as deposit at booking; at check-in a €50 incidental hold per room on credit card
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Church: San Salvatore al Vescovo (155 m · ~2 min walk)
- Church: Cappella dei Principi (229 m · ~3 min walk)
- Church: Chiesa della Misericordia (338 m · ~4 min walk)
- Church: Cappella dei Magi (399 m · ~5 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
COIN — 844 m · ~11 min walk
Giardino Bardini — 1.4 km · ~18 min walk
Museo di Casa Martelli — 106 m · ~1 min walk
Auditorium al Duomo — 36 m · ~1 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Monte dei Paschi di Siena — 119 m · ~1 min walk
Pulker Farma — 142 m · ~2 min walk
Sapori & Dintorni Conad — 203 m · ~3 min walk
Firenze Santa Maria Novella — 812 m · ~10 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Euro, EUR
Use ATMs for the best rates; avoid exchange bureaux at Florence airport and train station, which have poor rates and high commissions.
Major credit and debit cards widely accepted in restaurants, shops, and hotels. Small cafes, markets, and taxis often require cash for transactions under €10-15. Contactless and mobile pay (Apple Pay, Google Pay) are common in most places.
Tipping is not obligatory but appreciated: round up the bill in restaurants or leave 5-10% for good service; taxis: round up to nearest euro; hotel porters: €1-2 per bag; housekeeping: €1-2 per night.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Espresso at a local bar costs around €1.00-1.20; cappuccino (sit-down) €1.50-2.00. Avoid touristy spots near Piazza Duomo for better prices.
A panino or slice of pizza from a takeaway spot costs €5-7; a sit-down pasta dish around €10-12.
A main course at a trattoria or pizzeria: €12-16; a glass of house wine: €3-5. Avoid restaurants with menus in multiple languages and touts outside.
Santa Spirito and San Lorenzo market area have numerous casual spots offering sliced pizza, arancini, and lampredotto (traditional local tripe sandwich) for €4-6.
Supermarkets such as Conad, Carrefour Express, and Penny Market are common; the Mercato Centrale (ground floor) also has fresh produce and grocery stalls.
For affordable clothes, head to Via de' Calzaiuoli (chain stores like H&M, Zara) or Mercato di San Lorenzo (leather goods, but bargain).
Cheapest way around town is walking; single bus/tram ticket (valid 90 minutes) costs €1.50, a day pass (unlimited 24h) €5.00. From Florence airport (FLR): Tram T2 to city center costs €1.50 (buy ticket before boarding).
1. Book major museums (Uffizi, Accademia) in advance online to avoid long queues and skip tour company markups. 2. Eat at lunch rather than dinner for cheaper fixed-price menus. 3. Fill your water bottle at the public water fountains (fontanelle) around town — free, safe drinking water.
Good to know — Florence
Type C/F/L · 230V
safe
$1 ≈ €0.88 · EUR
Emergency Contacts
FlorenceEuropean standard 112 works for all emergencies from a mobile. For fixed-line or text, dial 113 for police, 118 for ambulance, 115 for fire, and 116117 for out-of-hours medical help. Keep 112 set as a speed-dial in your phone.
💡 Save these numbers in your phone. In life-threatening emergencies, call immediately.
Where to Eat
💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Florence, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Stella della casa
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Monte dei Paschi di Siena — 119 m · ~1 min walk — pharmacy · Pulker Farma — 142 m · ~2 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Find train tickets →Florence Airport (FLR) → Hotel David via Alamanni/Santo Spirito areas
💡 Newest eco-friendly tram system (opened 2019). Fast and cheap. Single journey €2, but get tourist passes to avoid repeat ticket purchases for hotel-to-attractions transit.
Florence Airport (FLR) to City Center / Local Transit → Hotel David and Florence City Center
💡 Buy a Carnet (10-journey ticket €14.50) or 48-hour tourist pass (€16.50) for all local buses. Airport coaches cheaper than taxi but slower with stops.
Florence Airport (FLR) → Hotel David, Florence
💡 Book pre-arranged transfers through your hotel to avoid inflated rates from unofficial taxis at airport rank. Expect traffic congestion during peak hours (8-10am, 5-7pm).
Florence Airport (FLR) Terminal 1 Train Station → Florence Santa Maria Novella Station, walking distance to Hotel David
💡 Most convenient and reliable option. Connect to local trams/buses from Santa Maria Novella. Hotel David is walkable (10 mins) from station in city center.
About Florence
Wikipedia ↗
Florence (Italian: Firenze) is the capital and most populous city of the Italian region of Tuscany, with 361,625 inhabitants as of 2026. It is also the capital of the eponymous metropolitan province, which counts 988,494 inhabitants. Florence was a centre of medieval European trade and finance and ...
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Stella della casa?
Request a room on the 3rd or 4th floor facing the inner courtyard. These floors are high enough to escape most street-level noise and the south-facing courtyard rooms catch good light without direct traffic sound. The lift only reaches the 4th floor, so rooms one floor above it have extra quiet from foot traffic.
Which rooms should I avoid at Stella della casa?
Avoid rooms ending in 01 or 02 on floors 1-2: they sit directly over the hotel's bar and breakfast area, and the ground-floor service entrance is below. Also avoid room 101 – it's next to the lift shaft and the street-facing windows let in Via della Scala's traffic noise from 6am.
Is Stella della casa noisy?
Via della Scala is a main thoroughfare with trams from 5:30am to midnight. The hotel bar runs until 11pm, and there's a service door on the side alley that gets delivery trucks from 7am. The lift is old and makes a distinct clunking sound on each floor.
Which rooms have the best views at Stella della casa?
South-facing rooms on floors 4-5 look over the courtyard gardens of neighbouring palazzi. Street-facing rooms on 4th floor and above get a partial view of the Duomo's dome between rooftops, but also the tram rumble from Via della Scala.
What are insider tips for staying at Stella della casa?
1) Parking: there is no hotel car park. Use the Garage Lungarno (€30/day, 5-min walk) or park at Villa Costanza tram stop (€8/day, tram 15 mins to station). 2) Check-in: ask the front desk for a room key with the courtyard-facing code – they have a few on the 4th floor that get direct afternoon sun and are deliberately less allocated to walk-ins.
What time is check-in at Stella della casa?
Check-in at Stella della casa is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Stella della casa have Wi-Fi?
Free WiFi throughout; the connection is adequate for email and browsing (about 15 Mbps download). No login – just accept terms on the landing page.
Is there a city or tourist tax at Stella della casa?
€5.50 per person per night (mandatory, applies to all booked guests from 10 years old; paid at check-in)
Where can I eat cheaply near Stella della casa?
A panino or slice of pizza from a takeaway spot costs €5-7; a sit-down pasta dish around €10-12.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Stella della casa?
Cheapest way around town is walking; single bus/tram ticket (valid 90 minutes) costs €1.50, a day pass (unlimited 24h) €5.00. From Florence airport (FLR): Tram T2 to city center costs €1.50 (buy ticket before boarding).
When is the best time to visit Florence?
May, June and September. The weather is warm but not brutal (highs 24–28°C), the days long, and the jasmine and wisteria are out. June starts to get busy but is still manageable before the July–August crush.
Top Attractions in Florence
💡 Check the upstairs museum (€6) for the originals. The church itself is free and usually empty, so you can sit in peace - a rarity in central Florence.
💡 Skip the expensive upstairs pasta. Head to the ground floor's Nerbone for a €5 tripe sandwich or €4 bowl of lampredotto - a true Florentine lunch.
💡 Go just before sunset to see the city glow. Stay until the lights come on - it's far less crowded than during the day and the Duomo looks spectacular.
💡 Arrive at 5.15pm weekdays in summer to hear the monks sing Gregorian chant during vespers. It's a hauntingly beautiful experience, and free.
💡 Book ahead online (€6) - they limit visitors to 30 per 15-minute slot. If sold out, show up at opening and ask about returned tickets.