Sina Villa Medici, Autograph Collection

An elegant and understated 19th-century hotel in a leafy area of the city center, Porta al Prato, Sina Villa Medici, Autograph Collection is close enough to the action of Florence without being overrun with tourist groups. It is conveniently located near the central train station Santa Maria Novella, but still has an appealing just-out-of-the-way location. Often the stopping point for football clubs (Juventus and Rome), plenty of movie and music royalty have also stayed here, including the much-loved Roberto Benigni and Luciano Pavarotti.

A walk into the sumptuous baroque lobby, perfumed with Acqua del Elba, is an exercise in luxury. Fun touches like freestanding statues of dogs lend pops of quirk to a serious lobby that is adorned with gilded mirrors and important statues (replicas from the Bargello Museum and surrounding galleries). While it certainly is historic, the hotel has hard-to-find Florence perks, such as a lovely outdoor swimming pool in a lush green oasis. There, dine at Harry’s Bar The Garden (an outpost of the legendary Harry’s Bar Firenze), where you can savor upscale dishes that lean Italian along with cocktails.