Cassandra

Have to choose between the Morandi alla Crocetta and the Hotel Silla. Both seem lovely. Any comments from anyone who has either stayed at one of these or knows the neighborhoods they're in (Morandi is up near Pza. Annunziata, Silla seems to be down the river a bit from the Pitti Palace)? We chose these two for the quiet, but wondering which will involve more walking to sights or restaurants -- and which is in general a pleasant place to stay.

susanna

We have stayed at the Hotel Silla, it is very nice and within walking distance to everything, maybe a 10/15 min walk to the Duomo area. The neighborhood has lots of little places to eat and is quite pleasant. The only negative I have to say is that we had a room facing the river and found it to be noisy with the windows open. If you are going during the warmer months with all the vespas flying around all day and night, I would request a room facing the back, which won't be as scenic, but quiet...don't know the other hotel you mention.

TravelsWithStDavid

We stayed at the Morandi alla Crocetta a few years ago and found it a delightful place to stay. It is on the second floor and is very quiet, depending on which room you get. My daughter had a room with a small terrace that was lovely. We had the room shown on the website that has a mural on the wall. It opens on an airshaft but is large and comfortable. The hotel's location is great, very near the Academia, a few nice restaurants and closer, I think, to the Duomo area than a hotel near the Pitti Palace. I would stay there again.

cmt

I've stayed at both and liked both and would recommend either. Neither is very far from the places you're likely to visit, but Morandi is a a little closer and more convenient. Silla has a lovely outdoor breakfast area. I found both to be very quiet, but at Silla you may hear traffic noise and at morandi you're near where students hang out so you may hear them. Morandi is on a dark ally that looks terrible on the outside but it's really all right. I think Morandi is much smaller and you may not always see a staff member at the desk, but they're around somewhere. I was in Silla in Oct. 1997 and in Morandi in Feb. 2002. I think Silla was more expensive. From what I remember both require you to climb a flight of stairs to get to reception--not a problem except when arriving with heavy luggage. You will probably be happy at either one.

Cassandra

Thank you all!! But.... sigh.... ;-D A complete balance of positives, negatives. Help?!

About climbing stairs w/luggage -- I will have a rollaboard and a slightly heavy shoulder carryon. cmt -- once I reach reception, are there more stairs to the rooms?

susanna

Hotel Silla: you will be entering a lovely garden courtyard and then procede up a flight of large stairs to the reception area, I would think if you couldn't manage someone would come down and help you.Once there, I think there are only two floors for the hotel, and I think that there is an elevator.

cmt

In Morandi I had a room on the same floor as reception. In Silla I think there was an elevator. Anyway, once you're in, someone can help you. On that 1997 trip my luggage way way too big and a wheel had broken. I generally don't mind using the stairs except when I'm lugging heavy baggage, especially when I first arrive in the country and I'm tired.

Both hotels are very good, and I'd happily stay in either of them again. However, I thought Silla was somewaht expensive (over $100 for a single) in 1997. Morandi was under $100 for a single in 2002. In both hotels my room was quite large and comfortable for a single (or may have been small doubles used as singles and charged as singles).