Novella House

Hotel Description

You know what struck me first about Novella House? It’s tucked away on this narrow street – Via del Porcellana – that most tourists probably walk right past without noticing. I mean, you’re literally a three-minute walk from the Basilica of Santa Maria Novella (hence the neighborhood name), but somehow you feel like you’ve discovered this quiet pocket of Florence that the crowds haven’t found yet. The building itself has that weathered Florentine charm – honey-colored stone that looks like it’s been soaking up Tuscan sun for centuries, which it probably has.

The rooms are honestly what you’d hope for in a well-run four-star place, though I’ll be straight with you – they’re not huge. This is Florence, after all, where space is premium and buildings are old. But they’ve done something smart with the design that makes everything feel intentional rather than cramped. The beds are actually comfortable (I’ve stayed in enough European hotels to know this isn’t always a given), and the bathrooms are surprisingly modern without feeling sterile. What I really appreciated was how quiet it gets at night – you’d think being so central would mean street noise, but Via del Porcellana doesn’t get much traffic after dinner hours. The staff genuinely knows the neighborhood, too. Not just the obvious tourist spots, but like… where to get the best coffee at 7 AM, or which route to take to avoid the crowds heading to the Duomo.

Here’s the thing about the location that makes it special – you’re close enough to everything that matters, but you’re not in the thick of tourist chaos. Walk five minutes toward the train station and you’ll hit the leather market at San Lorenzo, or head the other way and you’re at the Arno in about ten minutes. The Palazzo Strozzi is practically around the corner, and honestly, some of the best restaurants in this part of Florence are on the little side streets nearby. I found this tiny osteria two blocks away that doesn’t even have a sign – just locals eating incredible ribollita. You won’t find that kind of spot if you’re staying near the Ponte Vecchio with everyone else. The 8.4 rating makes sense to me – it’s not trying to be the fanciest place in Florence, but it gets the important stuff right. Good location without the tourist tax, comfortable rooms, and that feeling like you’re staying somewhere that actually belongs in the neighborhood rather than just dropped into it.

Rooms

• Double or Twin Room with 1 large double bed and 2 single beds for 2 adults, 1 child
• Superior Double Room with 1 large double bed and 2 single beds for 2 adults, 1 child
• One-Bedroom Apartment with 1 large double bed and 2 sofa beds for 4 adults, 1 child
• Two-Bedroom Apartment with 2 × 1 large double bed and 2 × 2 sofa beds for 8 adults, 1 child
• Apartment with Shower with 1 large double bed and 2 sofa beds for 4 adults
• Junior Suite with Terrace with 1 large double bed for 2 adults
• Apartment with Garden View with 2 large double beds for 4 adults

Reviews

• Ana from Georgia (9/10)

  Very spacious room for a great price, at a great location. Everything was at walking distance.
  
  There was no breakfast but the free snacks they provided were more than enough for us.

• Kathryn from United States (8/10)

  It was convenient. Alex was very helpful.

• Peter from Australia (9/10)

  Good size apartment with all facilities

• Kerry from New Zealand (9/10)

  Great location, friendly helpful staff including providing a fantastic walking tour that picked up the key sites. Some nice touches with snacks provided. Felt very Italian with decor.

• Joan from Canada (8/10)

  Fun decor , comfy bed and an amazing ceiling.

• Patrik from Sweden (9/10)

  Location

• Dale from United States (8/10)

  Very cute.. clean. The lift is not much bigger than a phone booth so a person with a large suitcase is all that would fit in it.
  Office is upstairs so there is no avoiding the stairs or the lift.
  I forgot one of my suitcases when we left and had to run back… office guy saw we had left it and tried to call us but our phone volume was down.
  We were able to leave our suitcases in storage while we went out to explore a bit more before leaving for the train.

• Leonie from Australia (8/10)

  Great location. Plenty of floor space in the room. Gorgeous decor. The snacks provided each morning were a great idea.

• Meghan from United States (9/10)

  Great location

• Deduni from Australia (8/10)

  Clean and comfortable place.

SURROUNDINGS

Facilities