Marignolle Relais & Charme-Florence

We spent six lovely days and five nights at the Marignolle Relais and Charme http://www.marignolle.com/en/index.htm
just outside Florence using a LuxuryLink auction package. We stayed in Junior Suite #7 (located on the ground floor, with a private covered terrace opening onto a secluded hedged courtyard).

Late Autumn and early Spring are our personally preferred seasons to visit Florence.substantial fewer tourist than in the Summer not as wet as Winter can be.less crowds means better opportunities for relaxed dining and leisurely strolls around the cobblestone streets to enjoy the sights.


Lorenzo Bulleri, owner & manager of the property, was the perfect host, personally arranging for round trip ground transportation to and from the Florence Airport as well as attending to our many requests and questions of interests reservations can be made in advance, for example, if you wish to visit the Uffizi Galleria or the Accademia. Lorenzo or a staff member can easily make the reservations for a specific visitation time for you. This personal service alone, can save several hour of waiting in line for tickets.
Breakfast, which was included with our package, is a well stocked buffet affair served on the enclosed sun porch, weather permitting.
We found the variety of breads, cereals, seasonal fresh fruits, yogurts, hand squeezed juices and hot beverages more than ample.
Anyone desiring a more substantial breakfast with eggs and meats, could have it prepared to order upon request and at as an extra cost item.


Both of the young ladies we encountered at the front desk, Valentina and Ctuara suggested a great array of restaurants (including Bibe[/b]a friendly neighborhood trattoria/restaurant not so frequented by tourists, La Giostra [/b]http://www.ristorantelagiostra.coman overpriced (did we actually pay 38 for the white truffle salad?),, but fun place on a difficult street to locate in central Florence, Il Magazzino[/b]in the Oltrarnothis great little place is a typical Osteria/Tripperia, we feasted on excellent salads, breads and a huge array of delictable cheeses...including a selections of our favorite...and a lovely fig mostarda Great wine, too. Il Magazzino is located on Via d Vellutini in the Piazza della Passera and can be located easily be asking almost anyone local shopkeeper in the area for directions..generally considered the neighborhood Tripperia on the south bank of the Arnoand were vegetarians, but the food was great, and Open Bar[/b]a semi-touristy restaurant south of the Arno and facing the Ponte Vecchioits perfectly OK to be a tourist, grab a window seat and stare at the Ponte Vecchio if Carlo is there, be sure he serves you).


Lorenzes sister, Sylvia, took us on a full day tour of the Chianti trail from Florence to Siena. Our favorite vineyard of the two we visited was Cassa Emmagreat Chianti, very educational guide and tasting hosts and all perched on a hillside with a classic vista of the Tuscan hills.
We were so pleased Sylvia was driving on the return trip considering the wine residuals!Several critical reviews regarding service and location have been posted on tripadvisor, but after reading them and comparing our experiences, we wonder more about those individual and their negative posting than the property.
We always found the service to be top notch and there is secret the property is not located inside Florence with many of the other hotels.

Spend the extra money and live the good life in Tuscany (OK, the taxi rides back and forth to the center of Florence can get expensive, but a small burden for such a lovely locationlike having your own private villa with attentive staff in Tuscany


Message Edited by omegaet on 03-03-2008 04:36 PM