Florence, the capital of the Italian region of Tuscany, is famous for its beautiful Duomo and narrow medieval streets. While hotels in the city are plentiful, given the popularity of the location, rooms in the centre don’t come cheap. We ventured a little further out, staying at the FH55 Grand Hotel Mediterraneo, which is a 20-minute walk from the main tourist areas. Did the compromise save any cash, or did it just leave us with sore feet?
What’s Hot
+ Secure car parking available on site
+ Central Florence is easily walkable
+ Breakfast is included
What’s Not
– The bar lacks character and comfort
– Popular with tour groups so the lobby and lifts can get overcrowded
FH55 Grand Hotel Mediterraneo opened in 1955. It was the first of the FH55 family and the vision of Florence-born businessman Dino Innocenti. The purpose-built hotel features 327 guest rooms, conference rooms, and a parking garage, making it a hotel that suits businesses, coach tours to the region, and individual tourists alike.
As the hotel celebrates its 70th anniversary, I can’t help but think that the location, situated on a wide avenue-style road just across from the River Arno, would have been a more serene spot in the 1950s. Today, the road is a well-used thoroughfare which sees plenty of traffic from early morning through to the evening.
Once inside, though, the reception areas are modern, light and airy. Having checked in just ahead of a large tour group, what became evident was that the few relatively small lifts weren’t sufficient to deal with such a volume of people and luggage. It was a little chaotic, but with everyone in the holiday mood, there was plenty of humour there, too.
Rooms and suites
A range of rooms are available
, from classic doubles to two-bedroom suites, depending on your needs and budget. We stayed in a mid-range double superior executive room with a balcony overlooking the Arno river.
The room was compact but reasonably well-appointed, with a desk area and a chair, an open wardrobe with storage shelves, as well as a padded double-width stool at the foot of the bed. On each side of the bed, there was a small table with an individual reading lamp and spotlight above it, a bank of switches to control the room lights, and a plug socket by the bed making overnight phone charging a doddle — something a lot of modern and luxurious hotels could learn from.
The pale walls, large wall mirror and floor-to-ceiling glass doors that open out onto the balcony helped keep the room feeling bright and airy. The wallpapered scene behind the bed added a touch of interest to the decor without being overwhelming — a nice addition to what would otherwise have been a rather bland room, although it doesn’t raise it to boutique-chic.
The bathroom was well-sized, featuring an over-bath shower, toilet, and a sink unit with ample space for all your toiletries. It felt generic — the kind of bathroom you’d find in any decent mid-range hotel, but not on Instagram — but that’s not a complaint: it was clean, functional, and entirely reliable.
Bars and restaurants
The Grand Hotel Mediterraneo has an on-site restaurant, Ristorante Arno, offering an à la carte menu for both lunch and dinner service. The menu features seafood, salads and steaks, with limited options for vegan and vegetarian diners. We decided not to dine at the hotel on the evening of our stay, as there were so many other options in the city, so we headed out to explore instead.
Back at the hotel, the lounge bar area was somewhat disappointing. Rather than creating a comfortable, relaxed space with subtle lighting and character for guests to have a few drinks or a nightcap, the bar feels more akin to a cafe. With very little in the way of comfortable seating, rather stark lighting and about as much atmosphere as a train station, it was far from a four-star experience. There were a few sofas in an alcove, which could have been a nice little snug to relax in, but with too much furniture crammed in, it didn’t quite hit the mark.
There was a small, covered outdoor patio area, which had a more intimate feel due to its subdued lighting. However, it also serves as the smoking area and is located next to a rather busy and noisy road, making it an overall less enjoyable experience for us.
Breakfast was served at Ristorante Arno, which offered a wide variety of buffet choices that were well-stocked and fresh, despite the restaurant being bustling. This is a credit to the friendly staff, who kept a close eye to ensure everything was tip-top.
FH55 Grand Hotel Mediterraneo: The verdict
Everything about the FH55 Grand Hotel Mediterraneo was functional and efficient, but it lacked personality. There was little to capture the heart or the imagination, or to make it stand out in the memory.
As a hotel, it worked well — the location was outside the city, but everything was within walking distance, and our evening stroll through the darkened streets was delightful. The room was compact but modern and functional, with a balcony to add a little more space to relax in the warmth of summer, albeit above a busy road.
There are savings to be made if you’re willing to stay outside of the city centre. We found rates as low as £100 per night at Grand Hotel Mediterraneo, but rates do rise in the summer season, making the savings a little slimmer. At that point, you’d need to balance a walk in the hot summer sun against any savings, and decide if it’s worth it for you.
If you’re heading to Florence by car and need a comfortable hotel at a reasonable price, then the FH55 Grand Hotel Mediterraneo will hit the nail squarely on the head. It does everything that it needs to do. Now, if it could just add in a touch more Italian charm, it could be a winner.
Where: FH55 Grand Hotel Mediterraneo, Florence, Italy
How much: From around £100
Average Joes Rating: ★★★☆☆
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