Brunelleschi Hotel

Character and identity

Set inside a medieval church and a round Byzantine tower (the city's oldest building), this 96-room hotel sits a corner away from the Duomo and folds genuine archaeology into the guest experience, including a small museum of Roman ruins in the basement. Standard rooms read chic and modern with parquet floors and modernist cube headboards; suites lean baroque, with exposed brick arches, marble and brocade. Dining splits between ground-floor Osteria for Tuscan staples and breakfast, and Santa Elisabetta, a seven-seat room tucked into the tower. Concierge service is a particular strength, with suite guests assigned a personal point of contact.

Who's it for

Bottom line

What you are paying for here is the building itself and the location: a genuine medieval tower steps from the Duomo, with an archaeology museum under your feet. Book a suite to get the exposed brick, butler and porter, and the personal concierge; the seven-seat Santa Elisabetta is worth reserving well before arrival.