This recently-restored Sixteenth Century palace offers three-star hotel accommodation in the heart of mediaeval Florence. Guests are a short stroll from the world famous Duomo (the view above is from the hotel), the Uffizi Gallery, Michelangelo's David in the Academy of Fine Arts. The hotel is in the historical centre, not far from Florence's main railway station. Needless to say, this is a shopper's paradise - with leather and craft markets, fashion boutiques and antique stores, jewelers on the Ponte Vecchio, artworks, books, wines and local delicacies. Hotel Machiavelli was originally built in the Sixteenth Century as the home of the powerful Salimbeni family - known for their close association with the famous renaissance strategist and political philosopher Niccolo Machiavelli. The building served for a spell as a convent and as the home of various Florentine noblemen until its conversion to a hotel at the beginning of the 20th Century. This is one of the oldest buildings in the St Lorenzo market area - completely restored in 1990, it offers a glimpse at the lifestyles of the Renaissance nobility. The furnishings are traditional, and many of the rooms have ornately carved wooden ceilings. The lobby and breakfast room are adorned with painstakingly preserved original frescoes and works of art. There are 90 bedrooms in the Hotel Machiavelli, with the upper floors offering marvelous views of the city over the terracotta tiles of surrounding rooftops. Every effort has been made to keep the impact of the original building - the furnishings are typically Florentine and the rooms have been tastefully decorated. Each room has an en suite bathroom or shower, color television and telephone. Full air conditioning keeps the rooms delightfully cool during the hot summer months and a minibar offers refreshments. Breakfast is served in a beautifully frescoed room and drinks, coffee and snacks are available throughout the day from the hotel bar. The area is rich in restaurants, including the Antico Mercato - a typical Florentine 'osteria' owned by Hotel Machiavelli