Rooms

All rooms are generously proportioned with comfortably worn parquet or tiled floors, shuttered windows and high frescoed or double-height ceilings. Artwork is contemporary and colourful, while furnishings lean towards vintage or recycled - perhaps a Biedermeier armchair, G-plan dressing table or lamp base fashioned out of an old fire extinguisher.

If you're happy with a street view rather than access to the terrace, the Superior and Deluxe Doubles are good value. The 2 Premium Garden Doubles are super-private, set in an old gardener's cottage in the Giardino Torrigiani (you're permitted access to get there!). King Garden View rooms are peaceful and have leafy views; King Balcony rooms have direct access to the communal terrace, with seating just for them.

Each room is subtly themed and unique. One takes its peppermint-green colour scheme from a framed vintage Pucci scarf; another is all about stars with a collection of snowdomes and a framed Ziggy Stardust album cover. Bathrooms are bold - perhaps hot-pink walls or hydrangea wallpaper - with large showers, plus clawfoot or deep baths in the bedrooms.

Features include:

• Bathrobes
• Hairdryer
• Minibar
• Safe box
• WiFi

Eating

It’s breakfast only at this guesthouse, but an above-average spread by Italian standards. As well as fresh fruit salad, cereals and yoghurt, there’s a decent selection of charcuterie and cheeses, along with pastries from a local bakery. We loved the apricot-jam croissants, and the blackcurrant tart was wickedly good. Try the homemade quince preserve, too.

The elegant breakfast-cum-sitting-room has a high, frescoed ceiling with a blingy chandelier, a parquet floor, and a mix of small, marble-topped tables and retro furnishings. Doors open to the terrace for alfresco breakfasts on warm days.

The pastries remain available all day, as are teas, coffees and fresh fruits - all free to help yourself to. There's an honesty bar for wine, spirits, soft drinks and beers.

For lunch and dinner, the Oltrarno has some of the city’s best neighbourhood eateries. We enjoyed earthy home cooking in Osteria Tripperia il Magazzino (tripe meatballs, rabbit alla cacciatora and a rich ragu made entirely from chicken livers). Staff also recommend Al Tranvai (rustic but innovative fare such as ricotta dumplings with blue cheese and asparagus, and an incredible chestnut pudding with persimmon).

Features include:

• Breakfast
• Coffee maker
• Restaurants nearby

Activities

• Browse the Oltrarno’s artisan shops; along and around Via San Spirito you’ll find unique jewellers, shoemakers, print-makers and handmade paper workshops
  
• Walk to Florence’s big-hitters, the Duomo, Uffizi, Accademia and Bargello, all 15 to 20 minutes’ away across the Arno river. Book ahead in high season
  
• For the finest views, brave the steep climb to San Miniato al Monte, the second-oldest church in the city. Romanesque in style, it has a stunning marbled façade and atmospheric crypt
  
• As well as designing the Duomo's famous dome, Brunelleschi also created the stunning Santo Spirito church, which became his swan song. Its sequence of 38 side chapels is perfect in its elegant simplicity
  
• Buy a picnic and swap the well-known Boboli Gardens for Giardino Bardini, a peaceful space mixing English romantic and Italian Baroque, with cracking city views

Kids

Families are welcome but it's not ideal for kids. The ambiance is romantic and peaceful, and the only meal served is breakfast.

Best for:

Babies (0-1 years)

Family friendly accommodation:

A baby cot or extra bed can be put in all rooms except the Superior Double.

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

AdAstra is on a quiet residential street of the Oltrarno district of Florence, discreetly hidden behind big iron gates.

By Air:
There are a few flights to Florence Airport (5km) but most people fly into Pisa (79km). You can either hire a car from the airport and park at the guesthouse, or take the train from Pisa to Santa Maria Novella (Florence's main train station, a 70-80 minute journey), then walk (20 mins) or jump in a taxi to reach AdAstra.

By Train:
If you'd prefer to travel overland from the UK, you can reach Florence and Tuscany quite easily from London. See the excellent Seat 61 for details.

Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.com.

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