The famed Grand Hotel Minerva occupies a strung-together series of medieval buildings overlooking Piazza Santa Maria Novella—right next to the cloisters of the church of Santa Maria Novella.
It is considered the oldest continuously-operating hotel in the city—it received its hoteliers license in 1872, but has been operating at least as far back as 1848. It is particularly favoured by heads of state.
The 102 guest rooms are largely modern—though some suites enjoy beamed ceilings over the contemporary furnishings and amenities, and some of the higher-grade rooms are done in a sumptuous antique style.
Since it was converted into a hotel more than a century and a half ago, many of the rooms in the "classic" category can be a bit small by the standards of a modern four-star property—which is why, coupled with prices that can push above €200 in high season, it doesn't get a star rating here.
However, all of the rooms are emminently comfortable and loaded with amenties like free WiFi. The lofted family suites can sleep up to five.
There is a breakfast deck jutting into the piazza for a morning cappucino with a view of the glorious facade of Santa Maria Novella, and a rooftop swimming pool with killer city views.
Pz. Santa Maria Novella 16
tel. +39-055-27-230
www.grandhotelminerva.com
€€€
Bus: 6, 11, 22, C1, C2; 12
Hop-on/hop-off: Ognissanti (A)
PLACES TO EAT
| English (Inglese) | Italian (Italiano) | Pro-nun-cee-YAY-shun |
| Good day | Buon giorno | bwohn JOUR-noh |
| Good evening | Buona sera | BWOH-nah SAIR-rah |
| Good night | Buona notte | BWOH-nah NOTE-tay |
| Goodbye | Arrivederci | ah-ree-vah-DAIR-chee |
| Excuse me (to get attention) | Scusi | SKOO-zee |
| thank you | grazie | GRAT-tzee-yay |
| please | per favore | pair fa-VOHR-ray |
| yes | si | see |
| no | no | no |
| Do you speak English? | Parla Inglese? | PAR-la een-GLAY-zay |
| I don't understand | Non capisco | non ka-PEESK-koh |
| I'm sorry | Mi dispiace | mee dees-pee-YAT-chay |
| Where is? | Dov'é | doh-VAY |
| ...a hotel | un albergo | oon al-BEAR-go |
| ...a B&B | un bed-and-breakfast | oon bet hand BREK-fust |
| ...a rental room | un'affittacamera | oon ah-feet-ah-CAH-mair-ra |
| ...an apartment for rent | un appartamento | oon ah-part-tah-MENT-toh |
| ...a farm stay | un agriturismo | oon ah-gree-tour-EES-moh |
| ...a hostel | un ostello | oon oh-STEHL-loh |
| How much is...? | Quanto costa? | KWAN-toh COST-ah |
| a single room | una singola | OO-nah SEEN-go-la |
| double room for single use [will often be offered if singles are unavailable] | doppia uso singola | DOPE-pee-ya OO-so SEEN-go-la |
| a double room with two beds | una doppia con due letti | OO-nah DOPE-pee-ya cone DOO-way LET-tee |
| a double room with one big bed | una matrimoniale | OO-nah mat-tree-moan-nee-YAAL-lay |
| triple room | una tripla | OO-nah TREE-plah |
| with private bathroom | con bagno | cone BAHN-yoh |
| without private bathroom | senza bagno [they might say con bagno in comune—"with a communal bath"] | SEN-zah BAHN-yoh |
| for one night | per una notte | pair OO-nah NOH-tay |
| for two nights | per due notti | pair DOO-way NOH-tee |
| for three nights | per tre notti | pair tray NOH-tee |
| Is breakfast included? | É incluso la prima colazione? | ay in-CLOO-soh lah PREE-mah coal-laht-zee-YOAN-nay |
| Is there WiFi? | C'é WiFi? | chay WHY-fy? |
| May I see the room? | Posso vedere la camera? | POH-soh veh-DAIR-eh lah CAH-mair-rah |
| That's too much | É troppo | ay TROH-po |
| Is there a cheaper one? | C'é una più economica? | chay OO-nah pew eh-ko-NO-mee-kah |
Share this page
Search ReidsItaly.com
Pz. Santa Maria Novella 16
tel. +39-055-27-230
www.grandhotelminerva.com
€€€
Bus: 6, 11, 22, C1, C2; 12
Hop-on/hop-off: Ognissanti (A)
PLACES TO EAT
This article was written by Reid Bramblett and was last updated in June 2014.
All information was accurate at the time.
about | contact | faq
» THE REIDSITALY.COM DIFFERENCE «
åß
Copyright © 2008–2017 by Reid Bramblett. Author: Reid Bramblett
