Follonico
Follonico 4 Suite B&B is an incredibly peaceful small luxury hotel in Tuscany, idyllically surrounded by vineyards, olive groves, and little rivers. Indulge in the slow living philosophy.
How would you describe Le Tre Stanze in a nutshell?
Coming to Le Tre Stanze is like coming home. It’s a private palazzo turned into a guesthouse that I always wished I would find when going on vacation.
The guesthouse is on the top floor of a building located right next to the Duomo in Florence, Italy. The palazzo has a long history going back to the 16th century and has been maintained almost in its original state as we tried to leave it as close to the way it was in our restoration.
What was your inspiration to open Le Tre Stanze?
It was my sister’s desire to open Le Tre Stanze as a bed & breakfast. She wanted to make this beautiful place available to everyone.
Our grandfather had bought the place in the 1950s and over the years every generation added a bit of restoration depending on how much money they had at the time. The nice part about this is that some original items remained, giving it a vintage feel.
What is so special about staying at Le Tre Stanze?
There is much to say about older houses that you can’t experience in newer buildings. This palazzo has a lot of history and each piece in the house has a story that makes it feel even more alive. It is also very important to me that we do not offer a functional hotel-like atmosphere but more of a private, at-home feel.
Most people look at the pictures and choose this place from the feeling they get. Some people come unprepared and are surprised that it’s not a hotel, but they end up loving it. They appreciate the difference and the warm feeling it offers.
What about restaurants and places to go out at night?
It really depends on what people are looking for. In Italy there is good food for everyone, even most low budget restaurants offer great options here.
I enjoy the simple Italian restaurants that offer local seafood and pastas. There are more expensive restaurants, but it doesn’t necessarily mean that their food is better.
How long would you recommend to stay to get a good sense of Florence?
A five-night stay is fantastic, but three nights would be plenty of time to see almost everything. The first day you can explore the city, the second day you can visit the museums and galleries, and the third day will give you time to stop by some of the nearby towns.
You can cover a lot of interesting stuff within just an hour’s drive. Some guests spend two days in Venice, two days in Florence and two days in Rome.
What’s been the biggest reward to you personally about running Le Tre Stanze?
The biggest reward for me has been to realize how many people appreciate a place like this. Oftentimes the house is full and I get to meet many amazing people.
It is also quite wonderful how our guests show me over and over again just how beautiful Florence truly is. It’s something I appreciate, because sometimes living in a place you can lose that feeling.
