About Us

Your home away from home in the historic Florence city center

We know that searching for hotel room deals online can be frustrating and time consuming. Here at the hotel il Bargellino we strive to make it effortless for you to get the most out of your vacation by providing assistance with your room reservations and easy access to the historic Florence city center with all of its awesome sites.

Our proposal is simple. Book directly. Leave searching and third-party middlemen behind. In return, we guarantee you’ll get our best deals on available room options and amenities. We’ll also commit to matching or beating any rates you find online for Hotel il Bargellino. If you check online and we appear to be full, just send us an email with your room request. We often save the best options for direct bookings.

My Italian husband Pino and I, Carmel, a transplanted Bostonian, run Il Bargellino. Our goal is to make you feel welcome. Our casual atmosphere makes checking in and getting settled at the il Bargellino a breeze! There’s also always someone on hand for information, directions or restaurant recommendations.

Great Atmosphere

Choosing a hotel for your stay means finding a place where you feel safe and comfortable. We believe that the charming ambiance of our pensione-style hotel is the perfect choice for you.

All guests are welcome to enjoy our enormous terrace. It’s a veritable oasis right in the center of Florence. Guests gather to chat, plan day trips, or simply kick back and relax with a good book after a full day of sightseeing and shopping. The many nearby markets offer you a choice of delectable cheeses, olives, meats, fruits, and breads. These amazing foods, paired with a glass of Chianti or chilled Prosecco make for an excellent “aperitivo” or meal to be savoured on the terrace under the Tuscan sun.

Amenities & Services

  • Free Wi-Fi access
  • Rooftop terrace
  • Coffee maker (includes a complimentary coffee pod and snack daily)
  • Microwave available in a common area
  • Refrigerators (in some rooms and in a common area)
  • Hairdryers

Conveniently Located

Il Bargellino is located in Florence city center within the ancient walls. We’re about a 20 mins ride to/from Peretola airport by Tram or Taxi, and the Santa Maria Novella (SMN) train station is just around the corner. There are cafes and restaurants on every block, and wonderful markets nearby.
The Palazzo dei Congressi and the Fortezza da Basso are just a few minutes walk. There conferences, Pitti shows and other trade fairs are held. This makes il Bargellino perfect for business travelers too.

From our hotel, it’s between a 5 to 20 min walk to many of the most important historical monuments and sites. To name a few:

  • The Duomo Cathedral with Giotto’s bell tower
  • Saint John’s Baptistery
  • The Medici Chapels
  • The Central Market (cheeses, meats, fruits, vegetables, and wine)
  • The Basilica of San Lorenzo
  • The Da Vinci Museum
  • Piazza Della Signoria, Palazzo Vecchio, Palazzo Strozzi, Ponte Vecchio, Palazzo Pitti with its lovely Boboli Gardens as well as the Bardini Gardens, among other sites too numerous to mention.

Getting to know me

How I, Carmel, came to live in Firenze

I grew up in an Italian neighborhood​;​ Boston’s North End. My paternal grandparents immigrated from Italy at the turn of the last century. I’ve alway been interested in Italy, Italians and their culture. In fact growing up I believed that I too was Italian. After being an expat for so many years, I have come to realise that I am in fact an American with Italian roots.

My first trip to Florence was in 1972 with a highschool group at 16 years old. What a glorious trip it was! Since then, I began to return at least once and sometimes twice a year to study Italian, art history and the Renaissance period.
With total immersion and a surname like Coppola, I fit right in and came to love the city and way of life.

In May of ‘81 at 25 years old and still “kinda cute” I was constantly having to fend off advances from guys offering private tours to one of Florence’s main attractions; the lovely and romantic Piazzale Michelangelo. One night while waiting for a friend in Piazza del Duomo who was super late, I decided to changed my method of defense. I resolved to chat with the next person who approached me so as to be left alone by others until my friend arrived. As fate and serendipity would have it, the next “ciao” guy I met was none other than Pino, my soul mate and the love of my life. The rest is history (or rather her-story).