Velona’s Jungle Luxury Suites: A Florentine Home, Reimagined

My room: Fossey

Velona’s began as the apartment of Veronica’s grandfather, an antiquarian, and after his passing the family reimagined it as a hotel, working with architects and designers to blend his original furniture and art collection with new touches rather than erasing it. That history is everywhere, in the hand painted walls in the common areas, the antique pieces layered into each room, the small Tuscan artisan jewelry displayed (and for sale) throughout the property. Every room carries its own nature inspired theme, jungle, animalier, garden, and each one feels genuinely distinct rather than a repeated formula with different wallpaper.

My bathroom with plenty of counter space to the left.

I was upgraded to the Fossey room on the main floor, and it was spacious in a way that surprised me, the bathroom especially, with more counter space than I’ve had in hotels twice the price. The room and bathroom both have large windows facing the street, no balcony on this one, though several other rooms in the property do have them. What struck me most was that despite facing the street, the room was completely quiet, not a hint of noise made it in, even with Florence in full August swing outside. The air conditioning deserves its own mention too, I was there during a heat wave pushing 100 degrees, and I genuinely didn’t want to leave my room some afternoons because it was that comfortable. Breakfast is included for guests on this floor, with a menu you choose from the evening before, and the mattress was some of the best sleep I’ve had on the road.

Dining area

The shared spaces are where the property’s personality really comes through. Walking in at night to soft music and those hand painted walls felt closer to arriving at a friend’s home than a hotel lobby. It’s a short distance from Florence’s main sights, not walkable in five minutes, but a tram and bus stop sit right out front, and the walk itself, twenty to thirty minutes, was genuinely lovely once the evening cooled down.

Shared living area

This is the property I’d recommend for a couple wanting quiet over convenience, or a solo traveler who’d rather retreat from the noise than be in the middle of it. It’s not the right fit for families, no children under fourteen, but dogs are welcome.

In-room details

Lovely murals and wallpapers in every room

Organic breakfast is brought to your room when you stay on their main floor.

• Check out is at noon, breakfast is served in your room anytime from 8am to noon.

• Front desk hours run 8am to 8pm, staff are reachable by WhatsApp or phone after hours.

• Ask for Federico on WhatsApp for restaurant reservations, he handles this personally and knows the city well.

• A few staff recommended spots worth your time: the Pharmacy of Santa Maria Novella, the oldest pharmacy in Europe with beautiful architecture and prices well below the luxury brands, the rooftop bar at The Library open until 9pm with Duomo views, and Il Conventino, a former convent turned cafe with an artisan workshop and garden courtyard, about a fifteen minute walk.

• If you’re visiting in August, ask for the property’s updated closure list, many local restaurants and shops close for the month.

• Two small elevators make luggage easy, but note a few entrance steps if mobility is a concern.

For more travel inspiration and insider recommendations, check out our Florence page.