Unannounced,

Unannounced,
and a little dishevelled, AdAstra serves up true
Italian romance and undone theatrics mere minutes from the
Boboli Gardens. Like all of the most revered grand dames, AdAstra
comes a little dishevelled. On entry you’ll bypass statues, busts
and overgrown shrubbery before making your way to the first-floor
reception. It’s here that you’ll really begin to get a feel of the
place. From its unremarkable roadside entranceway, you might be
surprised to learn that AdAstra boasts beautiful gardens, a
theatrical breakfast room and sprawling plum-carpeted corridors
that lead to individually designed rooms. Yet all will reveal
itself in good time…

Bedrooms

With no two rooms the same, whittling it down to your favourite
chamber is a trying task. Room 14 makes a good case for itself with
a split-level bathroom, plus a claw-foot bathtub in the main
bedroom. Zany additions include Penguin classics blown up and
framed, patterned and overlapping rugs, as well as a random door on
the second level which leads to nowhere but is visible from your
bed. Objects have been extracted from their original resting places
and repositioned here – the selection of hotchpotch furniture
ranges from the tasteful to the merely passable. Design frenzy
aside, the rooms are very generously sized, the beds particularly
comfy and the power shower is big enough for two.

What’s for breakfast?

A buffet-style breakfast means you can snack on a continental
spread of crystallised quince jelly, boiled eggs, hams and cheeses,
fruits and pastries anytime up to 10.30am. Coffees are made to
order while everything else is self-serve. Pack those plates high
and enjoy your breakfast out on the terrace (weather
permitting).

How about lunch and dinner?

AdAstra operates as a B&B so there are no afternoon- or
evening-dining options at the hotel. Nearby trattorias
worth a try include Trattoria Cammillo and Coco Lezzane. For those
with a fast metabolism, or simply partial to a mid-day/ late-night
snack, it’s worth noting that post breakfast the lounge area
stockpiles a selection of freshly baked cakes and pastries, hot
beverages and other nibbles, all of which are complimentary and
available throughout the day in the main lounge.

Amenities

With no gym, you’ll need to consider the city’s labyrinthine
your cardio.

Things you should know

The reception is open from 8am to 8pm. If you are arriving into

Florence outside of these hours you’ll need to let the hotel
staff know in advance so someone will be there to greet you. Create
a cushion of time for yourself, as the taxi queue at Firenze
airport is notoriously slow moving.

Within a short walk you’ll find

Go for a double
cultural dip at Pitti Palace and the Boboli Gardens, both of which are a 10-minute stroll
from AdAstra. Aside from weekends, there’s no real need to book
tickets in advance, just turn up on the day and wander through
Pitti’s prestigious art collection. When you’ve had your fill of
Caravaggio and van Dyck, the gardens are a great place for
reflection (and, let’s face it, another gelato).