Grand Hotel Minerva, Florence - Panoramic views and a heated swimming pool!

Location: Central Florence
Price: £££
Value for Money: 5/5
Overall: 5/5
Perfect for: Long weekends, luxury, central location

If you’re on a long weekend in Florence, or taking a key pitstop in the city, Grand Hotel Minerva is the ideal hotel for you. Although it doesn’t look like much on the outside, once you enter, you’ll be transported into another world.

Location

I have said it before and I will say it again, the location of your hotel in Florence is vital. You need to be within walking distance to the iconic sights like the Duomo and Accademia Gallery but by being so central you also get to experience and immerse yourself in the all-encompassing architectural wonder that is Florence.

Located on the bustling Piazza di Santa Maria Novella, next to the Piazza’s beautiful 15th-century Dominican church, is the Grand Hotel Minerva. This four-star hotel is as perfect as it comes to being right among the best that Florence has to offer. The Duomo is virtually a straight 7 minute walk away, the Ponte Vecchio is 10 minutes, and the Uffizi Gallery is 12 minutes. Even the tram station is a 2 minute walk away, making getting in and out of the city a doddle.

The Hotel

With a history dating back to 1869, the Grand Hotel Minerva blends into the surrounding buildings, both inside and out. Recently renovated, the hotel has a new interior design yet retains its historic charm and appeal whilst also managing to bring the hotel into the 21st century with a mix of modern and antique stylings.

The ground floor has multiple lounges that are stylish and both warm and inviting, with high ceilings and marble floors, a mix of modern and antique-style seating, gilt-framed oil paintings and mirrors alongside modern artwork, and ambient lighting to bring it all together.

The hotel's restaurant, La Buona Novella Bistrot, was unfortunately closed due to Covid but usually opens for lunch and dinner, serving a modern twist on Florentine and Mediterranean cuisine. There's also an terrace overlooking the piazza, which I’m sure is the place to be for alfresco dining during the warm summer months.

The ‘cherry on the cake’, as the hotel puts it, is the rooftop pool and terrace, which truly offers some of the best views of the city. Although it was raining during our stay (super sad!) I can imagine poolside being the place to be, and with a bar to boot to provide much needed cocktails and snacks in between sunbathing and dips in the pool. Fortunately, we were able to have a cocktail on the rooftop and enjoy the gorgeous panoramic views of the city.

The Suite

Spread over five floors, the hotel has 97 rooms and suites that cater to every kind of guest and experience and each room has been designed and curated by architect Piera Tempesti Benelli to ensure the best furnishings, materials and artwork from Florence and Tuscany is on display.

We stayed in a Junior Suite on the 4th floor and were immediately impressed by the contemporary design of the room. A bright spacious living room with sofa bed and dining/work table is separated from the spacious bedroom with walk-in wardrobe by two bi-folding doors. Modern artwork by local artists and smart LED strip lighting give the space a suitable contemporary feel and the sumptuous marble bathroom with large walk-in rainforest shower certainly left me with a Mona Lisa-esque smirk on my face.

The room overlooks the Piazza and the view is fabulous, with both the stunning façade of the Church of Santa Maria Novella and the equally glorious Duomo on display.

The room has two flatscreen TVs, one in the bedroom and one in the living room, and there are the usual amenities including electronic safe, tv/coffee making facilities (including Smeg kettle) and luxury toiletries.

We had a lovely night’s sleep in the comfortable king-size bed and the huge walk-in shower was both powerful and easy to navigate. All in all, a fabulous Suite that offers comfort and style amongst the beautiful city views.

Breakfast

Served in the ultra-spacious and bright breakfast room “Il Chiostro,” breakfast is usually a self-service buffet but due to Covid you can choose your items and a server will plate it up for you. The breakfast is full and varied with a selection of fresh fruit and pastries, meats and cheeses, cereals, and hot items including bacon, sausage, cherry tomatoes & scrambled eggs. Of course, there are fresh juices and choice of americano, espresso, cappuccino, or tea.

Overall

Grand Hotel Minerva is an excellent choice for both couples on a romantic city break and for families with kids of all ages. With a perfect location for seeing all the major attractions and close to the tram station, it is a stress-free option for making the most of the city if you just have a few days.

What’s more, the rooftop bar with heated swimming pool and panoramic views of the city is a real selling point that will certainly provide all visitors with memorable moments.