Antella Residence

Hotel Description

Look, I’ll be honest – when I first pulled up to Antella Residence on Via Romanelli, I wasn’t sure what to expect. It’s tucked away in Bagno a Ripoli, which is sort of this perfectly positioned little town that most tourists completely miss (their loss, honestly). You’re about 15 minutes from Florence’s chaos, but it feels like you’ve stepped into actual Tuscany – you know, the kind where locals still give you directions using hand gestures and the morning sounds are church bells, not traffic.

The thing about this place is that it gets the balance right. It’s got that 4-star polish without feeling stuffy, and the staff actually remembers your name after day one, which… well, that’s rarer than it should be. The rooms have this lived-in elegance – think exposed beams and terracotta floors, but with proper WiFi and a shower that doesn’t require an engineering degree. I mean, the building itself has character (translation: some quirks), but honestly, that’s part of the charm. The walls are thick enough that you’re not hearing every conversation from the hallway, and if you get a room facing the hills – which you should definitely request – the morning light streaming in is absolutely worth the early wake-up call.

What really sold me on this place, though, is how it sits in the landscape. You can walk to the village center in maybe 10 minutes, past these old stone walls covered in climbing roses (at least in spring – I imagine it’s different in winter). There’s a little alimentari where the owner, Giuseppe, will set you up with everything you need for a proper picnic, and he speaks just enough English to be dangerous. The bus into Florence runs pretty regularly from the main road, but honestly, I found myself wanting to stay put more often than not. The terrace area becomes this perfect spot for an evening aperitivo – they don’t push you to order from some overpriced hotel menu, and there’s something about watching the sunset paint those Tuscan hills that makes you understand why people move here and never leave.

The breakfast deserves a mention too – it’s not just the usual hotel spread. They source from local suppliers, which sounds like marketing speak until you taste the difference. The coffee is proper Italian strong, and they have this selection of pastries that changes daily. I actually found myself getting up earlier just to sit in their breakfast room before the day got started, which is… well, not typically my style.

If I had to nitpick – and you know I will – the parking situation can be a bit tight during peak season, and the elevator is charmingly vintage (read: small and slow). But these are the kind of minor inconveniences that fade when you’re sitting on that terrace with a glass of Chianti, watching the world slow down to Italian speed. The 8.4 rating makes sense to me – it’s the kind of place that delivers on what it promises without trying to be something it’s not.

Rooms

• Estimated price from: $135. One-Bedroom Apartment (2 Adults) with 2 single beds and 1 sofa bed for Max persons: 2
• Estimated price from: $198. Two-Bedroom Apartment (3 Adults) with 3 single beds and 1 sofa bed for Max persons: 3

Reviews

• Superb – Lee from United Kingdom – 10 May 2025 (9/10)

  Very clean and comfortable. Antella is a lovely vibrant place.

• If your want to stay out of town and be in the Community stay here – Richard from New Zealand – 24 April 2025 (8/10)

  Nice town setting short walk up the hill
  Friendly locals, great gelato shop / cafe centre of town if using the bus it’s easy as Antella is the last stop on the route c32
  
  What could be improved: No instructions in English limited glassware and sharp knife

• Great apartment in a quiet area that a good base for exploring – Tracey from United Kingdom – 14 August 2022 (9/10)

  I booked the property as it was close to the hospital my partner unfortunately ended up in after an accident as it was within walking distance for visiting, however for anyone else I would highly recommend as a great base for sightseeing the area. Excellent links into Florence and beyond. The apartment was clean, had everything I needed and in a quiet location with wonderful views which we made the most of once my partner was discharged.
  
  What could be improved: Only had a coffee machine, would have liked a kettle, but once I ran the hot water through it a few times I could make a decent cuppa

• Overall a very frustrating and bad experience – Alexandra from Germany – 5 September 2022 (3/10)

  The property itself is nice, large rooms, great view.
  
  What could be improved: However, it is not very clean, we had no hot water, although it has a kitchen there was no cutlery. The stuff doesn‘t speak English at all, they claimed that we didn‘t pay for the stay, although we did and provided proof for that

• Buen viaje buen trabajo – Eugenio from Spain – 7 July 2025 (9/10)

  Aseo muy limpio, buenas vistas, todo perfecto.
  
  What could be improved: Mosquitos del jardín, inevitable en verano.

• Good – Andrea from Italy – 25 May 2025 (7/10)

  What could be improved: Pernottato con amico. Avevamo chiesto due letti singoli separati e ci era stato garantito che così sarebbe stato. Invece giunti in tarda serata abbiamo trovato il letto matrimoniale intatto. Ci siamo dovuti arrangiare da noi a separare il letti. Peccato senza questa grave dimenticanza sarebbe stato un soggiorno perfetto.

• Superb – Klaus from Germany – 28 April 2025 (9/10)

  Wir hatten eine sehr schöne Wohnung mit Terrasse. Die Einrichtung war auf die Wohnung abgestimmt und in einem sehr gutem Zustand. Für unser Auto hatten wir einen kostenlosen Stellplatz in der Tiefgarage. Im Eingangsbereich gab es einen Kaffeeautomaten. Leider waren wir nur für eine Übernachtung. Für einen Aufenthalt um Florenz ein idealer Standort.

• Ottima struttura per riposare – Susanna from Italy – 13 April 2025 (8/10)

  La posizione del residence, il silenzio, la tranquillità

• OK – Chiara from Italy – 1 April 2025 (8/10)

  OK
  
  What could be improved: POCHE CIALDE CAFFE'

• Superb – Moreno from Italy – 16 December 2024 (9/10)

  tutto a partire dal bagno dalle camere e un soggiorno fantastico soprattutto caldo e senza rumori in particolare. nessun appunto da fare.
  
  What could be improved: praticante nessuna cosa in particolare

SURROUNDINGS

Facilities