wonderin' about Hotel Torre Guelfa in Florence

Ruth, what I say may be dated; I stayed at the Torre Guelfa in the autumn of 2001. Unlike U.S. hotels, the Torre Guelfa is located on one floor of an old, nondescript building that is very close to the Duomo and to the Arno River and Ponte Vecchio. Staff is pleasant, but the place was old and worn. My room was quite small, the room had a bathroom (but the shower water had caused the bottom of the bathroom to rot.) The hotel had air conditioning, operated by remote control. One had to ask, specifically, for air conditioning since there was no remote in the room. Breakfast was adequate. I do not recall having been awakened by church bells. I believe that the Torre (tower) is the tallest private tower in Florence. The view from the roof is quite nice. I was up on the roof in early evening and saw a couple eating dinner in an apartment house. Another was eating at table as wella dog, with front paws on the table, was eating from a plate!

I stayed there in June 2010 and there were many floors-I was on the highest story, but there was an elevator. The hotel was a typical RS hotel-nice, but not luxurious. The stairs to the top of the tower were on the floor I was on. The view from there was outstanding and you could certainly hear the bells from there. I don't recall bells upon awakening, but it was hot and we had the a/c on.