After four days of exploring the Eternal City of Rome, my family and I  went next to Florence, Italy, which was just about an hour and a half train ride (moving at a speed of 248 km/hr) from Roma Termini Station.  To be honest, I wasn't really that excited to explore the place.  What I was really looking forward to was the apartment where we would be staying for the next 3 days.

Whenever we plan for a trip, it has always been a challenge for me and my husband to find an accommodation that's good enough to fit our budget.  Admittedly, both of us happened to be frugal spenders (aka "kuripots" in Filipino), hence we are often faced with the dilemma of having to choose between an expensive hotel with outstanding reviews or an affordable hotel with mediocre service.  Reality bites, customers pay for quality!  So whenever a very rare opportunity of getting to experience luxury at a reasonable price (like a stay in Palazzo Salviati) comes in, we make it a point to never let such chance pass!

Just a little background:  Palazzo Salviati is a historic building constructed between the 13th and the 14th centuries, making it almost 800 years old already!  It got its name from the Italian word "palazzo," which, if I'm not mistaken, literally translates to "palace" and "Salviati," which was the last name of Giovanni di Lotto, the man who bought it from the Da Cintoia, who used to be a famous and powerful Florentine Family.  

We saw this listing on booking.com and got initially impressed by the classic yet elegant look of its rooms. The customers who reviewed this accommodation also gave it a superb rating of 9.3 out of 10, which made it all the more attractive among the list of hotels that we were considering.  I guess, the major deal breaker here was its location, for it is situated at the very heart of Florence, making it really accessible to all the major tourist attractions in the city.  In addition, it is also a known fact that this building used the be a palace in the earlier times.  Now, tell me, who wouldn't grab the opportunity to experience a luxurious stay in a palace without breaking the bank?

Our Verdi apartment is located on the fourth floor of the building.  They do have a small elevator, which can fit 3 adults, so no need to worry of having to carry your luggage all the way up using the stairs.  The loft-type room is very spacious at 75 square meters and can accommodate up to a maximum of 4 guests.  On the first level is a living room, a dining area, a fully equipped kitchen, toilet and bath, and a pull-out sofa bed that can sleep 2 adults.  On the second level is the master's bedroom with a queen size bed and a bathroom with a bathtub.

The room's beautiful wooden floors, coffered ceilings, large windows, and white curtains gave it a fresh and enchanting ambiance that made us feel like as if we've traveled back in time.  I just love how the elegant vintage theme of this room complemented the comforts of a modern home, I was looking for in an accommodation.  Certainly, this Verdi apartment was one of the best parts our Florence vacation!

Frankly, I really had high expectations of Palazzo Salviati.  I was so glad that they didn't disappoint.  In fact, I was totally impressed and very satisfied with my experience with them!  It was not only true that our Verdi apartment was super clean, it was fully furnished as well -- complete with kitchen appliances and utensils, washing machine, iron, ironing board, foldable clothes rack and hangers, and cleaning agents. They had even placed scented candles in our restrooms!  They definitely have everything you need in their apartments!

Perhaps, the only thing I did find inconvenient with them was the check-in process.  Their main office, located 400 meters away from Palazzo Salviati, was a bit cramped and had only one staff assisting all the guests, thus the long waiting time.  It was quite a hassle actually, but the luxurious comfort offered by their apartments was far more than enough to compensate the little inconvenience we had experienced during check-in.  

Overall, I would say that Palazzo Salviati it still one of the best accommodations you'll ever find in Florence!  I highly recommend this place especially for big groups who are planning to have an extended stay in the city!