Some friends & I traveled to Italy in July 2014 and stayed at B&B's along the way. Our two absolute favorite stays were at B&B Fior di Gelsomino in Florence and Olive Tree Hill in Zagarolo, just outside of Rome.
Fior di Gelsomino (Florence)
We stayed 4 nights here and truly enjoyed our stay! The B&B is run by Alessandra and her daughters and she was an absolutely lovely hostess! She greeted us curbside when we arrived and helped us get unloaded, guided us to free parking for our rental car and made us feel right home from the start. Her breakfasts are incredible! She makes something homemade every morning for breakfast for her guests and everything she made was scrumptious! The beds were comfortable and our room was spacious. Travel in/out of the city was super convenient with a bus stop just across the street. But even more importantly, when we had to make a visit to the local ER at the hospital, we called Alessandra to see if she could come interpret for us and she was there within minutes. She was very patient, gracious and caring and helped us through the process and stayed with us until our visit was complete. She went ABOVE & BEYOND in many ways and we were so thankful for her kindness and friendship! I would recommend her B&B to anyone and everyone traveling to Florence! Alessandra has the gift of hospitality second to none! :)
Olive Tree Hill (Rome)
If you are not only looking for a great place to stay but an unforgettable experience, then this is your B&B! It's actually located in Zagarolo, just outside of Rome. I think the train ride was maybe 35-40 minutes into Rome. If you enjoy the quiet countryside but still want to visit the big city, then this is the place you need to go. He will provide transpiration to/from the B&B to the train station, which was fantastic! The accommodations are lovely. Clean. Quiet. Comfortable. Spacious. The breakfasts are excellent. But most of all, the services provided by Ivano and his family are incredible! Ivano's wife and children were on vacation for the majority of our stay but we did get to meet them on our last evening there. So in the meantime, Ivano ran the B&B on his own without missing a beat. We were one of 4 groups staying at the B&B and we really enjoyed visiting around his table with everyone and getting to know all the other guests. His meals are delicious and worth every penny. He offers cooking classes & a night walking tour as well as tours of other areas around Zagarolo & Rome. We took advantage of his cooking class and the night walking tour and I must say, these are two of my favorite memories from our Italy trip. We have since made his homemade lasagna at home and it is excellent! And the night walking tour - DO IT!! Without hesitation, DO IT! Ivano is an excellent tour guide and very knowledgeable. And experiencing Rome at night with everything lit up and, even better, without the crowds, is incredible! And to top it all off, we brought home some olive oil straight from Ivano's own olive trees. Best souvenir yet. :)