More Luxury
by gabriellefox about Villa Antea Hotel
The luxurious Villa Antea Hotel, positioned in one of the most peaceful and elegant areas in the beautiful city of Florence, represents the very finest of Florentine hospitality. The property, dating back to 1903, combines beautifully-decorated interiors and lovely manicured gardens with a high standard of service, guaranteeing a very relaxing and pleasant stay. The hotel offers 6 elegantly-furnished and spacious double rooms, each equipped with individually-controlled air conditioning, comfortable king-size beds, high-speed Internet connection, safety deposit box, direct dial telephone, colour TV, walk-in closet, minibar with complimentary non-alcoholic drinks and hairdryer.
Each room is decorated with rare antique furniture pieces and precious tapestries, and features a spacious private bathroom entirely decorated in Carrara marble.
Photos
Inside View of the Dome
The dome from the bell tower
Performers outside of Uffizi
Via dei Bentaccordi (Florence, Italy)
Forum Posts
smn station at night
by fairyindadragon4rest
is it safe for 2 girls to be at the smn station for 2 to 3 hours in the middle of the night waiting to catch the first train out ???
Re: smn station at night
by Laurel914
I'm hoping someone will be able to give you a better answer because although I was traveling solo, the latest I was out was probably midnight or a bit after. I definitely felt safe the entire time I was out. You won't be by yourself so later probably won't be a big deal. If you're staying in a hostel you could probably stay in the common room through the evening without a problem or the lobby or if you're staying in a hotel, the lobby should be fine too. I stayed at Academy Hostel (it's about a block from the Duomo) and I'm sure it would have been fine for me to stay in the common area until catching an early morning train so I'm guessing your hostel or hotel would be ok with it too. Good luck!
Re: smn station at night
by leics
Although I too felt perfectly safe in Florence, I wasn't out in the middle of the night. I wouldn't feel comfortable hanging around any station anywhere at that time, to be honest: there are usually few, if any, staff around.
The suggestion above is a good one, and then maybe getting a taxi to the station if it's some way to walk?
Re: smn station at night
by campromise
Yes!
Re: smn station at night
by footstool
i was in Florence in 2006. The Santa Maria Novella area was full of seedy characters and street people in the middle of the day. Mostly they were student-types. All I can say is Stay Awake, and keep all cash and passports in your front pants pockets.
Re: smn station at night
by leics
I'm afraid I disagree about your perception of SM Novella. I have been in Florence (and Italy) several times over the past couple of years and I would certainly not say SM Novella was 'full' of seedy-looking people in the daytime.
Wherever there is a main railway station in Europe you will see some poorer people (and 'students'), simply because those who can afford a car generally use it. And of course stations attract transients of all types, including those looking for theft opportunities: that's normal (especially in tourist-popular areas). SM Novella is no better and no worse than any other European station I have passed through.
One should not judge by appearaces in any case, but it is simple common sense that hanging around anywhere likely to be fairly deserted in the middle of the night (be it station or city centre) is not a particularly sensible thing to do. One's gender is irrelevant. I wouldn't recommend it in the UK, nor would I recommend it anywhere else.
