Palazzo Firenze by Baglioni

Now branded Palazzo Firenze by Baglioni Hotels and Resorts, this five-star hotel of 24 rooms and suites occupies an 18th-century palazzo at Via Ghibellina 87, near Santa Croce. It offers Tuscan dining at Guelfi e Ghibellini, sits in the same historic building as the three-Michelin-star Enoteca Pinchiorri, and centres on a grand Royal Suite.

"A grand 24-room palazzo near Santa Croce, rebranded from Relais Santa Croce by Baglioni in 2025; shares its building with three-star Enoteca Pinchiorri."

Aggregate 9.0/10 on our editorial scale (Room & Design, Service, Location). Independently scored; see our methodology. This is our opinion, not an aggregate of user reviews.

Affiliate disclosure: we may earn a commission from bookings at no cost to you. We never accept payment for placement. Facts verified against official sources and the 2026 Michelin Guide in July 2026.

What makes Palazzo Firenze by Baglioni special?

Important update: the hotel long known as Relais Santa Croce by Baglioni was rebranded as Palazzo Firenze by Baglioni Hotels and Resorts in late October 2025. It remains open, in the same building and under the same ownership, so guests may still encounter both names during the transition. The property's appeal is its setting inside a grand 18th-century palazzo on Via Ghibellina, a short walk from the Basilica of Santa Croce and Piazza della Signoria. Built in the mid-1700s for the Marquis Baldinucci, the palazzo retains frescoed salons and period grandeur, and with only 24 rooms and suites the hotel feels intimate and residential rather than large. It is a five-star address positioned for travellers who want historic character, central location and refined Italian service. Dining is a notable feature: the hotel's own restaurant, Guelfi e Ghibellini, serves Tuscan cuisine, while the celebrated three-Michelin-star Enoteca Pinchiorri operates within the same historic building complex, giving residents rare proximity to one of Italy's most famous restaurants. The centrepiece accommodation is the vast Santa Croce Royal Suite. This is a palazzo hotel for guests who value heritage, scale of public rooms and location over resort facilities.

Which room should you book?

The hotel has 24 rooms and suites, an intimate count that suits the scale of the 18th-century palazzo. Accommodation runs from classic rooms through junior suites to grander suites, with interiors that blend period features, rich fabrics and frescoed or elegantly decorated ceilings with modern comforts such as marble bathrooms and up-to-date amenities. The palazzo setting means public rooms and the better suites carry genuine historic grandeur, and the mood is one of Florentine residence rather than contemporary design hotel. The showpiece is the Santa Croce Royal Suite, a large suite reported at around 260 square metres, with an elegant bathroom featuring a jacuzzi and a Turkish bath, aimed at guests wanting the most space and privacy the hotel can offer. Beneath that headline, categories vary in size and outlook, and as with any historic building some rooms are more generous than others, so it is worth discussing options at booking. Comforts across the board are pitched at five-star level. Guests should specify priorities such as a quieter aspect, a particular view or maximum space, since with only 24 keys the range within each category is limited and the standout rooms are booked early.

Where should you eat and drink?

The hotel's own restaurant is Guelfi e Ghibellini, set within the palazzo and serving classic Tuscan cuisine with a contemporary touch. It functions as the property's main dining room for guests, in an elegant, welcoming setting. Importantly, as of the 2026 Michelin Guide, Guelfi e Ghibellini does not itself hold a Michelin star, so guests should not expect a starred experience from the in-house restaurant. What sets this address apart on the dining front is its building: the celebrated Enoteca Pinchiorri, one of the very few restaurants in Italy to hold three Michelin stars, operates within the same historic palazzo complex on Via Ghibellina 87. That proximity gives hotel guests unusually direct access to a landmark of Italian fine dining, though Pinchiorri is an independent restaurant with its own reservations, pricing and dress code, and a table there must be booked well in advance and is entirely separate from the hotel's own catering. The hotel also offers a bar for drinks and aperitivi. In short, expect accomplished Tuscan cooking at Guelfi e Ghibellini for everyday dining, with the option, subject to booking, of a world-class tasting menu at Pinchiorri next door.

What is the spa and pool like?

Wellness at the hotel is modest in scale, in keeping with a small historic palazzo rather than a resort. There is a fitness area for guests, and the hotel can arrange wellness and beauty treatments, so massages and similar services are available even though the property is not built around a large spa complex. The grandest accommodation, the Santa Croce Royal Suite, includes its own jacuzzi and a Turkish bath within its bathroom, which functions as a private wellness feature for guests booking that suite. There is no swimming pool. Travellers who regard a full spa circuit, sauna, steam rooms or a pool as essential should treat this as a heritage city hotel rather than a wellness destination, and either use external facilities or choose a property with a dedicated spa. Because the hotel has recently rebranded to Palazzo Firenze by Baglioni Hotels and Resorts, and facilities and services can change during a transition, it is sensible to confirm the current wellness offering, including any treatment menu and the fitness provision, directly with the hotel when booking. The core proposition here is historic accommodation, central location and Italian service rather than extensive leisure and wellness infrastructure.

Where is Palazzo Firenze by Baglioni, and how do you get there?

The hotel stands at Via Ghibellina 87, in the Santa Croce quarter of central Florence, a genuinely central and walkable position. The Basilica of Santa Croce is close by, and Piazza della Signoria, the Palazzo Vecchio and the Uffizi are all within roughly a ten-minute walk, putting the main sights comfortably within reach on foot. The Santa Croce district mixes major monuments with a lived-in, characterful side of Florence, including leather workshops, trattorias and local shops, and tends to feel a little less relentlessly touristy than the immediate streets around the Duomo, while remaining thoroughly central. Being in the heart of the city, the surrounding streets are busy, and Via Ghibellina itself is a working city street, so some rooms may catch street noise; guests who sleep lightly should ask for a quieter aspect. There is no need for a car, as the centre is walkable and transfers are straightforward, and driving in the restricted historic zone is best avoided. For travellers who want to base themselves in an atmospheric, central quarter with easy access to the sights and a strong sense of everyday Florence around them, the location is a clear strength.

What do guests consistently say?

Guest sentiment has consistently favoured the historic setting, the central location and the personal service that a 24-room palazzo can provide. Reviewers highlight the grandeur of the public rooms and better suites, the frescoes and period detail, and a sense of staying in a piece of Florentine history close to the main sights. The intimate scale draws praise for attentive, individual service, and the proximity to celebrated dining, including the famous restaurant in the same building, is often noted as a distinctive plus. On the critical side, the themes are those common to historic city hotels. Rooms vary in size, and some categories are more modest than the palazzo's public spaces might suggest, so expectations should be set at booking. The lack of a full spa and pool disappoints a minority wanting resort facilities, and the central street location can bring some noise. Because the hotel has just rebranded from Relais Santa Croce to Palazzo Firenze by Baglioni, some guests may encounter inconsistent naming across booking sites and signage during the changeover, which can cause momentary confusion. Overall, travellers who value heritage, location and service over amenities tend to rate the hotel highly, while those seeking extensive facilities are the ones most likely to be underwhelmed.

Honest cons: who should skip it?

The clearest points to weigh start with the recent rebrand: the hotel changed its name from Relais Santa Croce to Palazzo Firenze by Baglioni Hotels and Resorts in late October 2025, so during the transition guests may find the two names used inconsistently across booking platforms, reviews and signage, which can cause confusion when researching or arriving. On facilities, this is a small historic palazzo, not a resort: there is no swimming pool and only a modest wellness and fitness offering, so travellers wanting a full spa should look elsewhere. Rooms vary in size and some categories are more restrained than the grand public spaces imply, so choosing the right room matters. The in-house restaurant, Guelfi e Ghibellini, is accomplished but does not hold a Michelin star, and while the three-star Enoteca Pinchiorri shares the building, it is an independent restaurant requiring its own advance booking and considerable spend, so its presence is an opportunity rather than an included amenity. The central street setting can be noisy, so light sleepers should request a quieter room. Pricing sits at five-star level, reflecting the heritage and location rather than leisure facilities, which suits some travellers better than others.